We offer outreach programs in the local community and regions to improve health and wellbeing
We work with communities, through outreach programs, initiatives, and projects available locally, regionally, and internationally, run by both professionals alongside students. These programs are designed by clinicians, with our local communities in mind, including disadvantaged, vulnerable, refugee and immigrant groups, to support, improve and promote health and wellbeing.
Outreach programs cover chronic disease management, social work, schools and Pacific Islander outreach, mental health support, parenting and family support, nature-based social connection, exercise, aging well, disability support, midwifery outreach, dental and oral health, and nutrition and healthy eating.
All outreach programs are either free or low-cost services to support the community. Some of the programs are available in remote and rural communities, or locally around Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and some are run within the Gold Coast and Mount Gravatt campuses.
Contact us
Gold Coast: Level 4, Ian O'Connor building (G40), Gold Coast campus, Cnr Parklands Drive and Olsen Avenue, Southport QLD 4215
Mt Gravatt: Level 1, Building M24, Mt Gravatt campus, 176 Messines Ridge Road, QLD, 4122
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to advancing knowledge, innovation, and practices that promote holistic health and well-being.
Depression and anxiety
Grief and bereavement
Work or study-related stress
Conflict and crisis situations
Mental health concerns
The Dental and Oral Health Clinic offers a range of general and specialist dental services, from standard cleans to complex implant rehabilitations. The clinic provides outreach and services in regional South-East Queensland communities including Warwick, Stanthorpe and Kingaroy. No referrals required.
Free dental checks
Please call us on 1800 188 295 to find out more.
Healthy Habits Triple P
Researchers from Griffith University and the University of Queensland are testing a newly developed online program designed to support parents to develop healthy eating and snacking practices with their children and reduce challenging eating behaviours (for example, fussy eating and mealtime difficulties).
Healthy Habits Triple P is suitable for parents of young children aged 2-6 years.
Outreach to local schools
Through a series of short plays, hands-on activities and sing-a-longs, and under the guidance of their Convenor, Professor Jeroen Kroon, students from Griffith University’s School of Dentistry and Oral Health have been visiting local preschools since 2013 to promote oral health practices and help establish good oral hygiene habits in children from an early age.
The interactive and fun classes assist children to look after their teeth and gums as well as providing dental students with valuable learning experience in community-based oral health education, which forms part of their course requirements.
A variety of schools across the Gold Coast participate in the program each year with hundreds of children in schools at Coombabah, Biggera Waters and Musgrave Hill learning good dental hygiene practices.
East Timor outreach program
In 2019, Associate Professor Liz Jones , from Griffith University’s School of Applied Psychology, initiated a collaboration with the Griffith University School of Dentistry and Oral Health and the Timor Children’s Foundation charity, to support final year dentistry students to apply their skills and gain experience providing care for underprivileged patients in East Timor.Access to dental treatment in the region is extremely limited with around 6 dentists in the entire country of East Timor.
Rural outreach
Poor oral health has been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, poor nutrition, diabetes and even dementia, yet people living in rural Australia are more likely to visit their doctor for antibiotics and pain relief for a dental problem than they are to seek out quality dental services. Reduced income and difficulty accessing dental services significantly impact regional and remote communities.
Griffith University partners with free State Government dental clinics in several areas including Warwick, Tweed Heads, Kingaroy, Stanthorpe and Southport. In all these clinics, students provide a full range of dental treatments at no cost.
The Hope4Health initiative
The Cherbourg dental clinic is another example of how Griffith students are contributing to rural communities. Prior to the Hope4Health initiative, the nearest dental surgery was more than an hour away and had a two-year waiting list.
The Hope4Health initiative is run entirely by students and volunteers in their final years of dentistry. The clinic provides treatment free of charge to the largely Indigenous community located west of Gympie and an hour’s drive from the nearest dentist.
The Counselling Clinic provides free and low cost on-campus and telehealth services, as well as a community based walk and talk for wellness program.
Walk and Talk for Wellness
Walk and Talk for Wellness is an initiative developed by staff and students in the Bachelor of Counselling program and is based on current research which shows the importance of nature to human wellbeing. Launched in July 2020, the program offers walks in the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens at Benowa, every Wednesday from 9-12pm, as well as on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, with trained facilitators who have specialised skills in counselling.
Walk and Talk sessions are for individuals and small groups. The program is a non-clinical opportunity for social connection and emotional support within a natural outdoor environment. Sessions are just $5 and are available on the Gold Coast and in the Logan region.
For bookings please email the team at walkandtalk@griffith.edu.au or via phone on 0448 575 548.
Social work clinic
The Social Work clinic provides free, low cost and concessional social work services to members of the local community, and accepts referrals from multiple community partners. The clinic offers psychosocial support, advocacy, counselling, and mental health wellbeing checks.
For more information, please contact the team on 1800 188 295 or email ahreception@griffith.edu.au. Appointments are available Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm, or at other times by special appointment.
School programs
Griffith University works in close partnership with selected schools in delivering programs from Year 7 to Year 12.
Pacific Islander communities
Queensland is home to the largest Pacific Island population in Australia. As part of Griffith University's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are proud to offer the Griffith Maori and Pāsifika LEAD Program.
The LEAD program is developed on the concept of āko, where the teacher and student share learning experiences to support students through their education journeyby implementing culturally responsive initiatives that raise confidence and demystify misconceptions of higher education.
The exercise physiology team offer low cost and fully funded chronic disease programs to members of the local Gold Coast community. The clinic offers a range of telehealth and community programs to promote health and wellbeing and reduce the risk of developing chronic disease.
Outreach programs
The Exercise Physiology team offers Community Health Checks and education sessions by request. They also have a referral partnership with Queensland Health, and with Community Health programs to ensure patients are supported upon discharge from their services. Griffith University has previously partnered with Lungs for Life, NDIS organisations, as well as local social groups such as Sheila Shack and Seachange over 50s.
Currently, Sheila Shack is open for weekly attendance, for a low cost annual fee of $20, as well as $2 charge for weekly attendance.
For more information, please contact the Exercise Physiology team directly on 1800 188 295.
The Physiotherapy team offers community outreach, clinic and partnerships with local teams and elite athletics, as well as offering a tailored osteoarthritis management program, aimed at strengthening, and reducing pain.
Partnerships with local teams and elite athletes
Griffith University provides sports physiotherapy services to local teams and elite athletes on the Gold Coast, including the Gold Coast Titans, Swimming Australia, the Gold Coast Suns, Surfing Australia, Queensland Academy of Sport, Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, and more.
Osteoarthritis management program
This program offers education for osteoarthritis pain management strategies and strengthening exercises and an activity plan to reduce pain. The program involves 5 one-to-one online consultations with a student physiotherapist who is closely supervised by a highly qualified musculoskeletal physiotherapist over a period of 3 months.
Building and sustaining productive partnerships with First Peoples
Griffith University, along with the First Peoples Health Unit, delivers outreach programmes and projects in the local community to improve and promote health and well-being. Much of our outreach in the First Peoples Health Unit is to First Nations student, community members and organisations. The Unit continues to build and sustain productive partnerships with key stakeholders within and beyond the First Peoples Health network because we value a collective and united approach to achieving better outcomes in Closing the Gap.
Find out more about work across Griffith to Close the Gap and reduce Indigenous disadvantage with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement and employment outcomes through our initiatives.