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$24 million funding boost for additional mental health care at headspace

The Hon. Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health

Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
Minister for Youth and Sport

The Hon. Michelle Landry
Assistant Minister for Children and Families
Assistant Minister for Northern Australia

MEDIA RELEASE

The Morrison Government is investing $24.2 million to reduce wait times – fast tracking access to mental health services for young people aged 12–25 seeking headspace appointments.

Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of our Government’s highest priorities.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on young Australians.

“One in four young Australians are affected by a mental health illness every year, and as we battle COVID-19 it’s more important than ever that we prioritise mental health,” Minister Hunt said.

“Funding will go to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and headspace National.”

Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the investment would ensure young Australians can get information, advice, understanding, counselling and treatment, when and where they need it.

“headspace is somewhere young people can get professional help, peer support and feel comfortable enough to tackle their challenges in a way that is right for them,” Ms Landry said.

“headspace provides access to free or low cost youth-friendly, primary mental health services with a single entry point to holistic care in four key areas—mental health, related physical health, substance misuse, and social and vocational support.”

Prior to the pandemic, headspace service centres were experiencing high demand across the country.

Individual grants of up to $2 million will improve facilities, access and reduce waiting times at headspace services commissioned by PHNs.

The headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program is an investment of $152 million over seven years from 2018-19 by the Morrison Government to reduce wait times at headspace services.

The headspace services which will receive funding through this grant opportunity are:

State/Territoryheadspace Service
New South WalesBankstown, Bondi Junction, Camperdown, Dubbo, Griffith, Hurstville, Lismore, Lithgow, Liverpool, Maitland, Miranda, Nowra, Orange, Penrith, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Wagga Wagga and Wollongong
VictoriaAlbury-Wodonga, Bairnsdale, Bendigo, Geelong, Greensborough, Shepparton, Werribee and Wonthaggi
QueenslandBundaberg, Capalaba, Hervey Bay, Inala, Maroochydore, Nundah, Rockhampton, Southport, Townsville and Warwick
South AustraliaBerri, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge and Port Augusta
TasmaniaHobart and Launceston
ACTCanberra

Minister for Youth Senator Richard Colbeck said the funding demonstrated the Government’s firm commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians.

“Children, young people and their families have been identified as a vulnerable population in the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan,” Senator Colbeck said.

“We know this group will experience the impact of the social and economic outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic the most.”

Through record investments in mental health services and support, the Morrison Government will invest an estimated $5.2 billion this year alone.

Since the beginning of the year, our Government has provided $8 billion as part of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Health Plan, which is supporting primary care, aged care, hospitals, research and the national medical stockpile.

This includes an additional $500 million for mental health services and support, including $64 million for suicide prevention, $74 million for preventative mental health services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and $48 million to support the pandemic response plan.

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