JUPITER was founded by Caring for Our Port Stephens Youth, a registered charity known as COPSY.

COPSY is “mission control” for the jupiter (space to talk) service it funds and oversees jupiter.

Our jupiter is an “early intervention” service. According to the World Health Organisation, half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and three quarters by a person’s mid-20s. Early intervention has long term benefits. For jupiter, anxiety and depression are the most common issues.

The idea for the jupiter service was conceived in late 2014 with Caring for Our Port Stephens Youth (COPSY Inc.) set-up as a registered charity in December 2015 (ANC ABN 62 560 399 570).

Our goals were to evaluate possible services and act as a resource to advocate, facilitate and support the establishment of an effective, sustainable and free mental health support service for young people aged 12 – 18 years (now 12-25). This service would be in the Port Stephens community and would be accessible and independent.

A needs analysis report, which has been important in obtaining grants, was completed in late 2016. It included 18 recommendations which were workshopped with the local community in February 2017. The outcome of this collaboration, was that a free, confidential counselling service was essential.

The formal launch of our jupiter counselling service did not take place until 20 March 2019.

Mission:

jupiter's mission is to provide a range of youth mental fitness opportunities such as free, strictly confidential counselling services and educational workshops for the youth of Port Stephens.

Values:

We care for our Port Stephens youth through embracing people from all background and celebrate diversity, individuality and multiculturalism. We provide mental health services with unequivocal acceptance of all people in all social situations.

All COPSY management committee members and volunteers are unpaid. The team at jupiter has some paid staff reporting to COPSY and some unpaid volunteers. [we need another photo of the COPSY team] From left to right: name1, name 2 etc.

To contact COPSY:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0422 584 087