Twenty new headspace outreach programs will help bring early intervention mental health and wellbeing support closer to young people living in rural and remote communities.
headspace has welcomed the Australian Government's announcement of more than $27 million to establish 20 additional headspace outreach services across rural and remote Australia.
There are currently 175 headspace services operating nationally, including almost 100 in regional Australia.
The additional outreach programs will be governed by existing headspace centres and will be developed in consultation with the local communities to ensure they meet their needs.
They will help bring support closer to where young people live, reducing barriers such as travel time, distance and cost.
The new outreach programs will be established in:
- Parkes, NSW
- Leeton, NSW
- Casino, NSW
- Maclean, NSW
- Big Rivers region, NT
- Gayndah, QLD
- Southern Moreton Bay Islands, QLD
- Balonne Shire, QLD
- Agnes Water, QLD
- Norfolk Island
- Lockyer Valley, QLD
- Yankalilla, SA
- Naracoorte, SA
- Ararat, VIC
- Robinvale, VIC
- Baw Baw, VIC
- Seymour, VIC
- Kerang, VIC
- Derby, WA
- Katanning, WA
Quotes attributable to headspace National CEO Jason Trethowan:
"We thank the Australian Government for this significant investment in the mental health and wellbeing of young people living in rural and remote Australia."
"Young people in rural and remote communities deserve the same opportunity to access culturally safe and high-quality mental health and wellbeing support as those living in metropolitan areas, regardless of where they live. We know shame, stigma and accessibility to safe services are huge barriers for young people in rural and remote areas of Australia."
"The next steps are very exciting as we partner with young people, regional stakeholders and existing headspace services to design and implement the new outreach initiatives."
