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Blog Articles
A woodworker’s story: Rising from the ashes of the Australian bushfires
The day after the bushfires that devastated the NSW south coast on New Year’s Eve in 2019, John stood surveying the piles of twisted metal that were once his six sheds and their contents.
Your Life Matters: Out West in June-July 2022
Quest team members Keri and Margie left their homes on 28 June for a drive through our magnificent countryside on their way to Coonamble for the first of four workshops in rural NSW.
A Manager’s Guide to Mental Health: Workplace PTSD
Former police forensic investigator Esther Mckay has a lived experience of post-traumatic stress in the workplace after her medical retirement due to PTSD in 2001.
Your Life Matters: Heart-warming stories
Margie Braunstein writes about communities she and Fiona Nixon met on their travels to Wangaratta and the Riverina, delivering Your Life Matters regional and rural workshops. Stories of joy, hope and healing.
David’s Story: Quest Supporting Men’s Mental Health
David has a message for men struggling with mental illness or experiencing life’s Ds – despair, divorce, disaster, a diagnosis, a death, or drug dependence.
Police Moving Beyond Trauma
Former police officer and mental health advocate Esther McKay is encouraging current and former serving police to consider taking part in the Moving Beyond Trauma program.
Banksia and Acacia Cottage Unveiled at Bundanoon
The transformation of an old amenities block into the Banksia and Acacia Cottage is now complete, with an official ribbon cutting celebration held to unveil the new accommodation.
Your Life Matters Regional Workshops 2022
The Quest for Life Foundation has partnered with community organisations to deliver the Your Life Matters Regional Workshops in NSW and Mallacoota.
Magic happens at Quest, says Merilyn
Merilyn Fowler says magic happens the the Quest for Life Foundation’s residential programs.
Animals Helping Humans Heal
Yoga instructor and former police officer Kate Kilby’s dog Gidget loves to help during the light exercise sessions that form part of the Moving Beyond Trauma program.
Peace Not War: Let’s Relieve Cancer War Metaphors of Duty
When we hear about someone’s journey with cancer, we often hear about their illness through metaphors of war.
Isobel’s Garden: Peace Blooms in Bundanoon
An ornate array of heirloom and hybrid roses in the Quest for Life rose garden holds special significance for Michele Corin.
Avoiding Burnout: Are You Just Limping to the Finish Line?
Are you just “limping to the finish line” of 2021? Check out these tips on avoiding burnout.
Key Lifestyle Recommendations for People with Cancer
How you can enhance the quality & quantity of your life if you have Cancer. Since the Covid-19...
Padre Ilarino’s Possum Socks
Petrea King writes about a touching story of Padre Ilarino and his possum-fur socks and how kindness can change a life.
Spread some hope, healing and peace this Christmas
37 years ago, a stranger gave me the gift of a brighter future. His gesture of kindness provided me with an opportunity to heal from a lifetime of trauma and grief.
Do you feel as good as you look?
Sometimes we get up in the morning, brush our hair, plaster on a smile and, while we look fine outwardly, under the surface our feet might be paddling madly to keep us afloat. What’s going on within us can sometimes be very different to how we appear to other people.
Quest’s COVID-Safe Residential Programs
Quest is delighted that our Centre in the Southern Highlands is open again for residential programs. The Quest for Life Centre is a COVID-safe business. See our guidelines in place.
Quest for Health & Wellbeing: 30-Day Fundraising Challenge
Spruce up your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing with simple daily habits that can make a profound difference to your life and fundraise for a cause – helping to fulfill Petrea’s 70th birthday dream of long-term support for people with trauma.
Ways to prioritise your mental health
October is Mental Health Month and today, 10 October is World Mental Health Day. Last year, we focussed on the impact the pandemic was having on our mental health, particularly after the recent catastrophic bushfires – and flood.
My experience with burnout – and what helps
Petrea experienced burnout early on in her career. Here she describes how she felt, the symptoms she experienced, and how she recovered. The 3rd in our blog series on Burnout.
The upside and downside of perfectionism
What is perfectionism and why does it drive so many of us? Margie Braunstein writes about her experiences and insight, and how perfectionistic people are more prone to burnout. This is the 2nd in our blog series on Burnout.
Recognising Burnout
Daily life can be exhausting even if you’re not living through Covid lockdowns. So, when do those feelings of exhaustion become more serious, and you become burnt out?
This blog is the first in a series on burnout. Taken from a conversation on ABC’s Life Matters with Gordon Parker AO.
Anxiety: What helps me most
Maybe anxiety for you is a sense of butterflies in your tummy or a racing heart, maybe a sense of ‘impending doom’, the ‘nameless dread’ or an inner flatness, agitation or restlessness. It’s normal to feel all of these sensations, as anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress.
Vicarious Trauma – PTSD Awareness Day
With a ‘lived’ experience of trauma after working 17 years in forensics for NSW Police, Esther Mckay helped establish Quest’s acclaimed Moving Beyond Trauma program
Quest for Life COVID-Safe Conditions of Entry
To protect the safety and wellbeing of our participants, staff and visitors, we ask you to adhere...
Quest’s Appeal: Cobargo Community’s story
Around 50 people attended each of the one-day workshops Quest held in Cobargo. It was a joy to see members of the small community come together to share this time.
Your Life Matters: Out West
Margie & Fiona were overwhelmed by the warm support they received in Orange, Dubbo,...
Quest’s Appeal: Chris’s Story – Knowing I’m not ‘broken’
I spent New Year’s Eve 2019 sitting in the pitch dark at my best friend Alicia’s house listening to a portable radio while Alicia’s parents, Lyn and Stu, tried to figure out if they would still have a house.
Quest’s Appeal: Lorraine & Ken’s story, Conjola Park
I spent New Year’s Eve 2019 sitting in the pitch dark at my best friend Alicia’s house listening to a portable radio while Alicia’s parents, Lyn and Stu, tried to figure out if they would still have a house.
Meet Esther McKay – Trauma specialist
Quest is thrilled to welcome Esther back as our new Program Development Manager – Healing Trauma....
Meet Our New Website!
We are thrilled to introduce Quest for Life Foundation's new website at questforlife.org.au !! We...
Befriending Stress
Stress is a term usually associated with negative effects. “I’m so stressed” or “I’m stressed out”...
I was once a Volcano girl…
In August of 2020, as I went through the wild unpredictable emotional eruptions that bubbled up...
Beyond cancer: Creating a healing environment
The past 35 years, since my own unexpected recovery from leukaemia, has given me the opportunity...
How your donations are helping people with trauma
Rob and Joan, affected by bushfire and other trauma, attended residential programs at Quest supported by your donations. Here they share their stories, with heartfelt gratitude for your support.
Katie’s story: I am not my trauma
I spent New Year’s Eve 2019 sitting in the pitch dark at my best friend Alicia’s house listening to a portable radio while Alicia’s parents, Lyn and Stu, tried to figure out if they would still have a house.
The Empty Chair at Christmas
Grief is a strange beast that we can learn to live with. We don’t get ‘over grief’ as if it were a surmountable obstacle.
12 Days of Self-Care and Wellbeing with Quest!
When life gets busy and stressful – as it tends to in the lead up to Christmas – people can think that taking time out for yourself is self-indulgent, and self-care can easily fall off our schedules.
Festive Juices
Enjoy these fresh and festive Juice recipes!
Lyn’s story: Looking forward instead of back
Every Tuesday, Lyn who lived in Conjola Park, would take her 92 year-old mother who she cares for...
Stacy’s story: A life changing experience
Stacy lived in an abusive relationship for a long time, stuck in a place of hopelessness and fear,...
3 Keys to Building Resilience
Building resilience is much like bottling sunshine; it’s part of the core of you and can help you...
Are we hard-wired for life or can we change?
Not too many years ago it was thought that brain capacity was related to intelligence so the...
Self-esteem and ways to boost it
Many people have a real problem with self-esteem. In Western society, it’s often more common to...
Overwhelmed? Easy ways to calm down
Sometimes the feeling of being overwhelmed doesn’t come from the tasks themselves, but from the...
Polyvagal Theory – Insights into our responses
The Polyvagal Theory provides insight into our responses to threat. Kate MacRae, Quest Facilitator...
Setting personal boundaries
What they are, how to set them, why we don’t set them and why we need them. By Bernadette Arena...
Tips to help you declutter
Clutter can be both a symptom and a cause of stress. Perhaps for some, the challenges of 2020 have...
Workplace stress – what helps
The year 2020 will remain in the memories of people as the time the world came face to face with a...