Geelong residents will have greater access to mental health support with federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announcing last week a new facility would be built in Norlane.
Mr Hunt visited Geelong on Friday to announce the Geelong Head to Health Centre would be built in Station Street, Norlane, and would be fully functional by June.
The centre will offer support to adults with moderate to severe mental illness by providing mental health treatment over the short to medium term.
The Geelong Head to Health Centre is one of eight initial trial sites under a $114.5 million federal government program.
Mr Hunt said the Head to Health outreach program had been running successfully in Geelong for the past three months and would soon have a new purpose-built home.
“Our government’s investment in Head to Health centres like this one in Geelong will boost mental health and wellbeing access and support. It will save lives and improve lives,” he said.
“Geelong locals have been accessing Head to Health mental health services since December 2021, at various community-based locations around Geelong. This has been helping to support people in the community where they live and over the holiday season, and addressing the increasing demand for mental health services resulting from COVID-19.”
Senator Sarah Henderson said the new site would offer a comprehensive range of services at a single location.
“The purpose-built site has focused on privacy for those accessing the site, and the location and size of the site encourages other services to be located in the same building, to support service integration and a seamless and coordinated patient journey,” she said.
“Services provided at Geelong Head to Health will be recovery focused, trauma informed and person-centred, with an emphasis on ensuring consumers and carers do not need to retell their story.
“Head to Health centres are designed to provide a welcoming, low stigma, ‘no wrong door’ entry point for adults to access mental health information, services and support.”
The Geelong Head to Health service has been commissioned by the Western Victoria Primary Health Network and will be operated by Neami National in partnership with Drummond St Services.
Western Victoria Primary Health Network chief executive Rowena Clift welcomed the announcement and said the new facility would become the heart of mental health and well-being support for people in Geelong’s northern suburbs.
“Currently under construction, the Station Place site will be a fit-for-purpose location providing a warm and welcoming space where people can find mental health support from professional counsellors alongside people who have had lived experience with mental health issues,” Ms Clift said.
Anyone experiencing distress can also 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.
