Crisis can be taxing. It costs individuals and whānau time, money, health, and relationships - and repeated crises impact our whole society.

Health Action Trust peer workers see crisis as an opportunity for change for an individual - and for our systems. We meet tāngata whaiora in crisis, after crisis, and before a crisis. Our role is to be with people, not to try and change or control them but to recognise their current reality with curiosity about what else could be possible, holding hope for a positive future and moving towards this together. Nobody gets it like someone who has lived it!

Our technology is more than our peer support approach: it's about shifting systems to meet the needs of people: working in multiple spaces across the system and the community; meeting people at different stages of life; creating virtual teams with our partners; linking our own teams to provide a better response; and investing in emerging lived experience leadership. We test innovative responses, thinking beyond the bounds of our organisation or our service setting - working towards a future where we are more responsive and preventative and less reactive.

The Gold Coast continuum of crisis care services was developed from the Gold Coast Crisis Reform for Responsive Effect, Compassionate, and Connected Care. Recognising the need for prevention, early intervention, and an alternative pathway to the Emergency Department that is consumer-centred and recovery-focused.

Gold Coast Mental Health, in partnership with the Gold Coast Primary Health Network, have developed a Crisis Care Continuum framework, which is integrated pathway for the Gold Coast community in accessing crisis care and to provide effective hospital diversion strategies to ensure consumers receive the most appropriate pathway of care. The Crisis Stabilisation Unit is a key part of crisis continuum of care on the Gold Coast and having a significant positive impact for our consumers as true alternative to emergency.