1. STRATEGIC
2014-2017
PLAN
“Thank you so much for supporting ReachOut.com.
Without what you have helped to create,
I wouldn’t be here”
Becca, 19
1

2. FROM OUR
CEO
ReachOut.com by Inspire
Foundation exists to help
young people be happy
and well. We continue this
mission at a time of great
change in technology and
community understanding
of mental health.
Whilst the prevention of mental illness is a crucial part
of our mission, we must also help young people flourish,
equipping them with the knowledge, skills and resources
to thrive in a changing world.
Since we launched ReachOut.com in 1998 our
organisation has achieved great things. Our service has
helped millions of young people get the information,
support and help they have needed to get through tough
times. In the process, we’ve been pioneers in the field of
e-mental health and launched the ReachOut.com service
in Ireland and the US. We’ve also developed initiatives
that have provided mental health resources to thousands
of high school teachers across Australia, whilst educating
the mental health workforce on how ReachOut.com can
improve the care they provide young people.
We’ve delivered this with a strong commitment to youth
involvement and evidence-based service development.
In addition, we’ve taken a lead role in the establishment
of a Cooperative Research Centre that will push our work
and the work of others to new heights.
Whilst we can be proud of what we have achieved to date,
we know there is much more to be done. This Strategic
Plan is a roadmap for the coming three years to meet
our ambitious goals of reaching one in two young people,
and transforming the way in which youth mental health
services are delivered in Australia. We know that with
greater resources, we can do so much more to reach and
help young people.
None of this will be achievable without the community of
people who believe in our mission and support our work.
To each of you we say thank you, and invite you to join
us as we help even more young people be happy and well.
Jono Nicholas
CEO
STRATEGIC
2014-2017
PLAN

3. OUR
MISSION
THE
CHALLENGE
Helping
all young
people
be happy
and well.
• 1 in 4 young Australians live with a mental health difficulty1
• 75% of people with mental health difficulties will experience
its onset by the age of 242
• Suicide is the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 14-253
• Over 80% of young males and nearly 70% of young females with
mental difficulties did not access any mental health services4
OUR
GOALS FOR 2017
• At least 1 in 2 young people are aware of ReachOut.com
• ReachOut.com is accessed by at least 3 million visitors annually
• At least 90% of young people who visit ReachOut.com get
the help they need
3

4. HOW DOES
REACHOUT.COM
WORK?
WE ARE RELEVANT,
ENGAGING AND
TRUSTWORTHY
The world’s 1st online
mental health service
(est. 1998)
1.4 million unique
visitors per year5
Youth driven and
evidence based
Available to young
Australians 24/7
Fact Sheets
Evidence based information
on wellbeing and mental
illness that helps young people
understand what’s going on and
what they can do about it
Apps & Tools
A range of self-help tools that
assist young people to care for
their own mental health
Community Forums
Peer support that fosters a sense
of community and belonging
Referral Pathways
Clear steps and pathways for young people
requiring additional support, directing them
to places and services that can help
Personal Stories
Honest, relatable stories from other young
people who have improved their mental
health and wellbeing
Youth Involvement Program
An offline program involving young
people in every aspect of the
ReachOut.com service
DELIVERING AN EARLY
INTERVENTION ONLINE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
STRATEGIC
2014-2017
PLAN

5. Universal
All young people,
regardless of mental
health status
PROVIDING POSITIVE
IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES
Selected / Indicated
Young people at risk
of developing mental
health problems
Immediate Impacts
Increased mental health literacy
Increased ability to recognise problems
Increased knowledge of how to get help
Early Intervention
Young people with early
signs and symptoms of
mental health problems
FOR ALL
YOUNG PEOPLE
ReachOut.com Desktop Site
ReachOut.com Mobile Site
ReachOut.com Social
Media platforms
ACCESSIBLE ACROSS
MULTIPLE DIGITAL PLATFORMS
Long-term Impacts
Increased belonging + social connectedness
Increased resilience + self-esteem
Decreased stigma
Ultimate Outcomes
Decreased psychological distress
Prevention of serious mental health problems
Increased wellbeing and quality of life
For young people visiting ReachOut.com
during a tough time, 91% said the service
provided the information they needed6.
Of the young people visiting ReachOut.com
experiencing high psychological distress,
60% had not sought formal help from a
professional. 41% of those young people
reported they would be more likely to seek
additional help after using ReachOut.com.
5

6. WHERE IS
REACHOUT.COM
GOING?
2017
A seamless, self-driven
pathway with individualised
choices of support and care
Integrated access to a
range of mental health
services and professionals
2015
Optimised for high speed
broadband and mobile
Plus...
A suite of
evidence-based self-help
apps and interventions
And...
A personalised online
mental health experience
NOW
Australia’s leading
online youth mental
health service for
information and
support
STRATEGIC
2014-2017
PLAN

7. OUR
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
DESIGN AND DEVELOP
THE NEXT GENERATION OF
REACHOUT.COM USING HIGH
SPEED BROADBAND AND MOBILE
LEAD TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHANGE TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE
THE HELP THEY NEED, WHERE AND
WHEN THEY NEED IT
Future service: Design and
develop a seamless integrated online
mental health service using the full
advantages of online delivery
Reach: Significantly increase the
awareness and trust of ReachOut.com
among young people, educators, mental
health professionals and the community
Evidence based and effective:
Research, develop and implement
new products to better help more
young people through ReachOut.com
Innovation: Pioneer new thinking and
research that prepares the youth mental
health sector for future service delivery
models
Helping the hard to reach: Ensure
that ReachOut.com reaches young
people unlikely to access traditional
mental health services such as
young men and LGBTIQ young people
Collaboration: Collaborate with partners
to improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of mental health service delivery for young
people
BUILT ON ...
A HIGH
PERFORMING
ORGANISATION
THAT EFFECTS
SOCIAL CHANGE
People: Provide the capabilities to deliver our
strategic priorities through developing our people and
attracting new talent
Finances: Diversify and increase sustainable funding
across both government and non-government sectors
Processes: Maintain first class systems, policies
and procedures
7

8. OUR VALUES
Generosity – Compassion – Inclusiveness – Responsibility - Fun
ReachOut.com by Inspire Foundation is a values driven organisation.
Our values govern the way we work with each other and with young people.
Our Organisation:
Our Services:
Inspire.org.au
info@inspire.org.au
+ 61 2 8029 7777
For Young People
ReachOut.com
facebook.com/ReachOut_Aus
plus.google.com/+ReachoutAU
twitter.com/ReachOut_Aus
youtube.com/ReachOutAus
Sydney Office
Ground Floor, 97 Church Street
Camperdown NSW 2050
Perth Office
10/444 Beaufort Street
Highgate, Perth WA 6003
For Mental Health Professionals
and Teachers
au.Professionals.ReachOut.com
facebook.com/ReachOutPro
1 ABS Media Release for 4326.0 - National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007, ABS, Canberra.
2 McGorry, P.D. et al (2007) ‘Editorial: Investing in youth mental health is a best buy’ in Medical Journal of Australia 187
(7 Suppl), 2007, S5-S7.
3 ABS (2013) 3303.0 – Causes of Death, Australia, 2011, Australian Government, Canberra.
4 ABS (2008) National Survey of Mental Health & Wellbeing, 2007 Cat. No. 4326.0
5 2012 Annual unique visitors to ReachOut.com - Google Analytics.
6 ReachOut.com User Profiling Survey 2012