A Mental Health Group
Insights Mental Health Support Group is a compassionate, inclusive community dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by mental illness, emotional challenges, or social isolation.
Insights Upcoming Meetings 2026
Monthly Schedule
First Thursday of each month: Hybrid meeting (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, at Uniting Ballarat East and on the app Zoom).
Second Sunday of each month: Coffee catch-up and dog walk (12:30 pm, meet at Pipers by the Lake, Lake Wendouree).
Upcoming Thursday meetings
May - TBA
June - TBA
July - TBA (Guest speaker)
Upcoming Sunday meetings
Out the front of Pipers by the Lake, Lake Wendouree 12:30pm onwards
12th April
10th May
14th June
12th July
Zoom Link for our Thursday meetings
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88981753706?pwd=TE5mc1dsa1hmVHpIRGI4c VdybFpWQT09.
Meeting ID: 889 8175 3706
Passcode: 643002
Note
Please confirm attendance for the walks.
Partners, friends, family, and carers are welcome with the participants consent. All our meetings are free to attend and referrals are not necessary.
About Us
Insights Mental Health Support Group Ballarat is a volunteer non-profit organisation that was founded in 2004. With supports from donations, grants and assistance from the Victorian Department of Health and the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC), Insights has continued to support the Ballarat community.
The group was originally established to support individuals with bipolar disorder. Since then, Insights have evolved into a more inclusive support group for those experiencing a range of mental health challenges, including mood, personality, anxiety and psychotic disorders, as well as those facing emotional difficulties and social isolation.
Our monthly meetings have previously invited guest speakers such as musicians, artists, healthcare professionals, and mental health advocates, who cover a variety of topics—from navigating the NDIS to accessing local support services.
Beginning at former Aprotch building in Ballarat East, Insights later moved to Wellways, Ballarat Central. As of 2025, Insights has relocated to the 'Uniting' building in Ballarat East. Since COVID-19, our meetings have adapted to a hybrid format, allowing members to join either face-to-face, by phone and through the app Zoom.
Insights is currently under the auspice by the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC).
Gallery
Insights & Feed the Knead program
In 2023 and 2025, Insights was supported by the Feed the Knead program by Dominos pizza. This initiative aims to provide meals to charities, organisations and businesses who've been doing it tough. Insights participants were treated with a pizza meal during our evening meetings. Thanks Dominos for supporting Insights and bringing people together in the Ballarat Community.
Three workshops on mental health and recovery
After the success of website launch in 2018, Insights held three separate workshops on youth and mental illness. With funding from The Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) and the venue Federation University, Andy Penny from Headspace Ballarat, Heidi Everett (Musician, comedian and advocate) and Sandy Jeffs (Award winning author and spokesperson) discussed mental health coping strategies, a lived experience perspective and recovery through music and artistic interests.
Thanks to Federation University, VMIAC, volunteers, guest speakers and to participants who came together to enjoy the three workshops.
Daylesford Workshops
In 2019, VMIAC held a workshop in Daylesford bringing mental health support groups from the Ballarat and Melbourne regions together. Committee members from each support group were invited to present the aims, sustainability, its past events and hopes for the future. Thanks to D Taylor and VMIAC for coordinating this event and to other support group facilitators for their tips, insights and advice.
Website launch
Our 2019 relaunch marked a turning point for Insights. We welcomed industry leaders Dr Gerry Naughton and Daryl Taylor to discuss the NDIS trnsition, while partners like Wellways and Latrobe Community Health provided hands-on support for NDIS applications. It was a successful day of expert insights, community connection, and live music.
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
In 2022, Insights was invited by the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council to write a policy submission into the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Our submission primarily focused on support residential services (SRS's), homelessness and the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS). Please click on the link below to access the submission.
https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/sub00102486-insights-mental-health-ballarat
Our Team
Established in 2005, Insights is peer-lead by a qualified committee who have been working together since 2016.
Chair
Our chair oversees the group, manages conflict resolution, networking and collaborating with other organisations and professionals. He is the main facilitator of our group meetings. He has around 25 years' experience working in lived experience roles such as a consumer consultant and senior manager at psych services. He holds a degree in Social Welfare and is also a director for an Australia wide support group organisation. He is currently completing his master's degree in philosophy specialising in theology and virtue ethics. He also holds certificates in emotional CPR and in peer support. His interests include participating in cycling events, hiking, playing the flute and piano and walking his dog.
Secretary
Our secretary manages the communication side of things such as admin activities and overseeing the Insights web and Facebook pages. She keeps up to date with creating the flyers and in emailing and SMS reminders of upcoming meetings. Her interests include horse riding, cooking, gardening and crochet.
Treasurer
Our treasurer has been working in the mental health and disability sector since 2018 and holds degrees in Visual Arts and in Community and Human Services. She has experience in navigating the NDIS such as funding, invoicing processes and in plan management. She handles the financial side of Insights which includes applying for grant funding and finalising acquittals, banking, insurances and budgeting for expenses. Her interests include art and art history, meeting new people, travelling and anything music related.
Insights Library
(Books are available for hire for a small deposit)
Books on Bipolar Disorder and Mood Disorders
A Lifelong Journey: Staying Well with Manic Depression/Bipolar Disorder – Sarah Russell
Surviving Manic Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families, and Providers – E. Fuller Torrey & Michael B. Knable
The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings – Monica Ramirez Basco
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament – Kay Redfield Jamison
Win the Battle: The 3-Step Lifesaving Formula to Conquer Depression and Bipolar Disorder – Bob Olson
Books on Schizophrenia
A Beautiful Mind – Sylvia Nasar
Joe’s Diary – A Personal Account of Schizophrenia
Living with Schizophrenia: A Family Guide to Making a Difference – Jeffrey Rado & Philip G. Janicak
My Punished Mind – David C. Boyles
Nightmare: A Schizophrenia Narrative – Wendell Justin Williamson
The Center Cannot Hold – Elyn R. Saks
The SANE Guide to Schizophrenia – SANE Australia
Books on Mental Health Treatments & Coping Strategies
50 Psychology Classics – Tom Butler-Bowdon
Healthy Food, Healthy Mind – Mark Loughran
Healthy Living – SANE Australia
The Meaning of Madness – Neel Burton
The SANE Guide for Families – SANE Australia
The SANE Guide to Drugs – SANE Australia
The SANE Guide to Healthy Living – SANE Australia
The SANE Guide to Medication and Other Treatments - SANE Australia
Memoirs & Personal Stories
Broken Open – Craig Hamilton
Dying for a Cure: A Memoir of Antidepressants, Misdiagnosis, and Madness – Rebekah Beddoe
Flying with Paper Wings: Reflections on Living with Madness – Sandy Jeffs
For Families – SANE Australia
My Schizophrenic Life – Sandra Yuen MacKay
Petra Thomas: Swimming Against the Tide – Andy Shea
Speaking from Experience – A collection of personal stories - SANE Australia
Speaking from Experience: Families and Mental Illness - SANE Australia
The Quiet Room – Lori Schiller & Amanda Bennett
You're Not Alone: A SANE Guide - SANE Australia
Mental Health Links
Support services in the Ballarat region
Ballarat Community Health – 🔗 https://bchc.org.au/services/mental-health-services/
Ballarat East Neighbourhood House – 🔗 https://www.ballarateastnh.org.au/links/mental-health-support/
Ballarat Mental Health Support – 🔗https://ballaratmentalhealth.com.au/
Ballarat Men's Mental Health – 🔗 https://ballaratmmh.com.au/
Grampians Health Ballarat (Ballarat Health Services) – 🔗 https://www.bhs.org.au/services-and-clinics/mental-health-services/
Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect – 🔗 https://www.mindaustralia.org.au/services/grampians-mental-health-and-wellbeing-connect/
Grow Mental Wellbeing Program – Ballarat Group – 🔗 https://grow.org.au/group-locations/ballarat-grow-group/
Headspace Ballarat – 🔗 https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/ballarat/
Lifeline Ballarat – 🔗 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ballarat/
Mind Australia – Ballarat – 🔗https://www.mindaustralia.org.au/
St John of God Pine lodge Clinic – 🔗 https://www.sjog.org.au/pinelodge
Uniting Ballarat Mental Health Services – 🔗 https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/locations/ballarat-42a-dyte-parade/
Support services in the surrounding areas
Beyond Blue – 🔗 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Ballan District Health and Care (BDH&C) – 🔗 https://www.mecwacare.org.au/ballan-health-and-care-services/
Barwon Health (Geelong Health Services) – 🔗 www.barwonhealth.org.au/
Bendigo Health Services – 🔗 www.bendigohealth.org.au/
Black Dog Institute – 🔗 https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
Djerriwarrh Health Services (Bacchus Marsh) – 🔗 www.djhs.org.au
East Grampians Health Services – 🔗 https://www.eghs.net.au
Kids Helpline – 🔗 https://kidshelpline.com.au
Our Community – 🔗 http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/
SANE Australia – 🔗 https://www.sane.org/
Suicide Call Back Service –🔗 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council Inc. (VMIAC) – 🔗 https://www.vmiac.org.au/
Contact us
Acknowledgment of Country
Insights acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People, and recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.