Youth Mental Health "headspace centre" to open here in Geraldton

Good news for Geraldton. Headspace have announced they will be opening a centre here in Geraldton.

It's expected to be open toward the end of 2015 or early 2016. 

Full media release below. 


Thousands more young Australians will get the help they need for problems affecting their wellbeing, after the Minister for Health, Peter Dutton, announced the next 15 headspace centre locations.

In welcoming the announcement, headspace CEO Chris Tanti said the new centres will extend the important early intervention work of the national youth mental health organisation into areas of significant need.

"Through our existing headspace centres we've helped thousands of young people with issues ranging from depression, anxiety, relationship break downs, bullying, exam stress and problems with alcohol and drugs," Mr Tanti said.

"These additional locations will bring us to a national network of 100 headspace centres. Together with our online service, support to schools and expansion to help young people experiencing early psychosis, we can help thousands more young people and their families no matter what issue they're facing."

"Many of these communities announced today have advocated strongly for headspace centres to be established in their areas, so we know these centres will be highly valued. We also know there are many more communities across the country in need of support for their young people," Mr Tanti said.

The 15 locations announced by the Federal Government today are:

New South Wales: Griffith - Murrumbidgee (Griffith), Orange, Sydney - Castle Hill, Broken Hill - Far West (Broken Hill), Goulburn.

Queensland: Moreton Bay - north (Caboolture), Gladstone, Brisbane east (Capalaba), Bundaberg

Victoria: Swan Hill, Melbourne - Greensborough, Gippsland (Bairnsdale), Grampians (Horsham)

Western Australia: Geraldton

South Australia: Limestone Coast (Mount Gambier)

Mr Tanti said determining the locations of the new headspace centres is based on a range of factors to ensure headspace services are delivered in the areas of greatest need.

"We take into account distance from existing headspace centres, the current and future population size, social and economic factors, accessibility of the location and the readiness to set up a headspace centre," Mr Tanti said.

The process to determine locations for centres is done in consultation with the Department of Health, headspace and the State and Territory Governments. The final decision is made by the Commonwealth Government.

The additional centres are part of the 2014-15 Federal Budget commitment of an additional $14.9 million to support expansion of the headspace network by 10 centres, bringing the total to 100 across Australia.

Young people who do not have convenient access to a headspace centre or would prefer to get help online, can access eheadspace.org.au - a free, confidential and anonymous telephone and web-based mental health support service.

About headspace

The primary focus of headspace is the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians. headspace helps 12 - 25 year olds going through a tough time through a national network of 70 headspace centres (soon to be 100) and online and telephone counselling service eheadspace.

headspace can help young people with general health, mental health, education and employment and alcohol and other drug services.

headspace was established and funded by the Commonwealth Government of Australia in 2006.