AFTER six and half years supporting the youth of Warwick, Sophia McLucas is moving on.

Mrs McLucas, the manager of headspace Warwick said it was time for a change.

"I've taken a role as manager of mental health, alcohol and other drugs programs for the Primary Health Network,” she said.

"I will be based in Warwick. They've been kind enough to give me an office here, but there will still be lots of travel to Toowoomba and Ipswich.

"This new role will have a great deal to do with influencing new directions for mental health in this region.

"There are going to changes in the future to how funds are allocated to mental health services and my role include facilitating those changes.”

Mrs McLucas said she would still have a lot to do with headspace Warwick.

"My new role will also include overseeing the three headspace centres in the Darling Downs West Moreton Primary Health Network, which are Warwick, Toowoomba and Ipswich,” she said.

My headspace role over the last few years, while having the managerial aspect - meetings, contracts, staffing and administration - also allowed me the opportunity to maintain a case load.

"I love talking to young people. they have so much energy, enthusiasm and so many great ideas.

"Unfortunately, the new role won't have so much of the hands-on work with kids, which I'm going to miss.”

Mrs McLucas said the interaction with young clients provided much of the direction for how the service was run.

"We rely on the kids to let us know what's happening in their lives, in town and at home and that drives our direction,” she said.

"So I'll miss those parts of working at headspace. I'll miss the kids and the amazing team behind headspace Warwick.

'They're an amazing, quirky bunch. It's not an easy job. It's a real balancing act trying to meet everyone's needs and the team is wonderful, everybody supporting each other.