The Morrison Government continues to demonstrate its firm commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of young people by delivering new, dedicated funding to support the formal establishment of a headspace satellite service in Corio.
Funding of $1.7 million over four years from 2021-22 will be provided to the Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN) to commission this service to meet the needs of young people in the community.
This will allow young people in the Geelong region to continue to access to vital mental health services.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said young people have been affected significantly by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and access to mental health services and support was more important than ever.
“We know that the pandemic and the measures taken to contain it have been incredibly difficult and stressful for many Australians, and particularly younger Australians,” Minister Hunt said.
“That is why we are prioritising mental health support, ensuring that young people have access to care to help them recover and reach their full potential as we reopen the country.”
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said that the headspace network is at the heart of the Government’s vision for youth primary mental health services.
“headspace is recognised by young people, their families and communities as a trusted source of care and has played a vital role in ensuring that young Australians have access to the supports they need during this extremely challenging time,” Assistant Minister Coleman said
“Over the next four years, the Government is investing $873.2 million in headspace, bolstering capacity to reduce wait times and undertaking the single largest expansion of the network to deliver 164 services by 2025-26”
“This will ensure that young Australians can continue to get mental health information, advice, counselling or treatment, when and where they need it.”
headspace offers early intervention services across four key areas—mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use. Services are co-designed with young people to ensure they are relevant, accessible and highly effective.
Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson, said the investment in a dedicated headspace in the Corio electorate will be welcomed by many young people, parents and teachers.
“This dedicated headspace in Corio will be a major asset for young people living in Geelong’s north. During the past eighteen months, so many teenagers and young adults have struggled,” Senator Henderson said.
“Access to services to improve resilience, bolster mental health and increase connectivity, as life starts to return to normal, will be invaluable to so many young people.”
Since March 2020, the Morrison Government has made available more than $1 billion in funding to respond to the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a substantial investment in telehealth services.
The Government has also invested a historic $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan through the 2020-21 Budget to deliver significant reform of the mental health system and ensure that all Australians have access to high quality, person-centred care as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. This brings the health portfolio expenditure in mental health and suicide prevention services and supports in 2021–22 to a record high of $6.5 billion.
Young Australians needing support can access free services through their local headspace or online through eheadspace (https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/).
Australians looking for support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Wellbeing Support Service any time via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).