Mental Health Literacy Made Accessible For All Communities.
We want more people to have the language, knowledge and confidence to understand mental health and respond with care.
About Palm Tree Covering
Mental health belongs in everyday conversation.
We create welcoming and practical ways for communities to build knowledge, confidence and connection around mental health.
Why Palm Tree exists
Mental health knowledge should feel understandable, useful and close to everyday life.
Palm Tree Covering was created to make mental health literacy easier to access across communities. Too often, people care deeply about someone who is struggling but are unsure what they are noticing, what to say or where to begin.
We turn mental health information into clear education, practical tools and culturally responsive learning that can be used in real conversations, workplaces, families and community settings.
Our purpose
Built to make mental health literacy more accessible.
Make practical mental health education easier to understand, discuss and use.
We create learning that supports people to recognise concerns, begin safer conversations and connect with appropriate support.
Clear, culturally responsive and grounded in everyday life.
We use plain language, encourage questions and make space for different cultures, experiences and ways of understanding mental health.
What guides the work
Education that respects the person, the culture and the context.
Accessible
Clear language, practical formats and multiple ways to learn.
Culturally responsive
We recognise that culture, family, language and community can shape how mental health is understood.
Evidence informed
We translate credible mental health information into practical education without making it unnecessarily clinical.
Community centred
We listen, invite questions and design learning around what people need to understand and use.
What Palm Tree does
Different ways to learn, connect and build confidence.
Palm Tree brings together community education, licensed training, practical resources, digital learning and community conversation.
Community EducationOriginal mental health literacy learning designed for community settings.
Licensed TrainingStructured recognised training for organisations, workplaces and groups.
ResourcesPlain language guides and practical information that can be read and shared.
Learning HubPreview self paced learning or continue existing learner access.
Founder
Palm Tree began with lived experience, community work and a belief that understanding matters.
Palm Tree Covering was founded by Christine Onesmo, drawing on more than a decade of experience across community, family and frontline services. Her lived experience as a South Sudanese refugee also helped shape Palm Tree's commitment to mental health education that is clear, culturally responsive and relevant to everyday communities.
Experience and qualifications
Christine holds a Diploma of Counselling, a Diploma of Community Services and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Her background includes youth work, residential care, family services and case management.
She brings this experience to practical, culturally responsive education that respects learners' different backgrounds and ways of learning.
Her story is part of Palm Tree's beginning. The focus of the organisation remains the communities, learners and organisations it serves.
Read the founder story
Living between cultures shaped Christine's understanding of how language, family beliefs, belonging and familiarity with services can influence the way people understand mental health and ask for help.
Through years of work alongside children, young people, families and communities, she repeatedly saw a need for clear information, respectful conversations and practical guidance that made sense outside clinical settings.
Palm Tree grew from that gap: a place where people can build mental health literacy without needing specialist language or prior knowledge before they begin.
Program information
Palm Tree program guides
Open a pamphlet to read or save a copy.
Palm Tree organisation guide
Explore Palm Tree programs and training options.
Community Education guide
Explore the eight modules, CARE framework and ways to learn.
Community Mental Health Circle guide
Find out about Community Circle and register your interest.