A psychologist’s commitment to the community gets recognised but she urges for more support for Hedland

The selfless commitment of a Hedland psychologist has been noticed around the State and resulted in a nomination for the 2023 Western Australian Community Achievement Awards. Caroline Rodgers, who founded Hedland Psychologists, a practice that provides assistance to clients presenting mental health issues, has once again been nominated for the prestigious community award after receiving a nomination in 2022. The Hedland Psychologists clinic, which is the last remaining service in the Sonic Health building, provides face-to-face, online, and telephone counseling to individuals and partner organisations. Ms Rodgers said she decided to open the clinic after she discovered there was a huge unmet demand for mental health services in town. “I saw a huge need for the service provision for the local community, “she said. ”There was a huge shortage and I thought I have the skills, abilities, desire, and the attachment to the Pilbara to give it a go.” Ms Rodgers has an extensive history of community support after she first came to town in 2003 to work at the now-defunct detention centre. Through Hedland Psychologists, she has been able to raise money for a new Hedland men’s shed, sponsor the Hedland Well Women’s Centre Pink Pilbara breakfast, and volunteer at the hospital. The clinic also collaborates with numerous organisations including Legal Aid and Aboriginal Legal Service Hedland. Ms Roger said that the nomination was a recognition of the considerable effort from Hedland Psychologists to provide mental health services to the community. “It’s a recognition of the hard work and commitment that we provide,” she said. “We get no government funding, no housing subsidies, no allowances from entities, and so everything is our own personal commitment whether it is time, finances, or support. “There is a strong need for this and it’s a shame our types of businesses are not supported with subsidised housing, or flights to Perth, or cheap rentals or something. Hedland Psychologists will move to a new location in August when the Sonic Health building finally closes its doors. In June, the North West Telegraph broke the news of the clinic’s closure, which came as a massive blow to the Pilbara’s struggling healthcare industry. Hedland Psychologists is currently the last service available in the building, and Ms Rogers who works alone in the vacated site said she would like to see more support given to people who are seeking psychological help in Port Hedland. “I’d like to see greater accessibility to qualified psychological support services,” she said. “With the support of some of the bigger entities, providing local face-to-face employee assistance programs that allows individuals to have a greater opportunity to access our services. Hedland Psychologists is self-funded and operates fully autonomously.