Headspace Port Macquarie will soon have additional support available for young people aged 12-25 years through an additional $24.2 million from the Australian Government.
Helping youth with employment, training opportunities and mental health support is a priority for Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan who has welcomed the additional $841,714 funding over three years for headspace Port Macquarie.
“One in four young Australians are affected by a mental health illness every year and as we recover from COVID-19 it is more important than ever to assist young people to have good mental health,” he said.
“headspace Port Macquarie located in Short Street provides early intervention services with psychologists, social workers, youth workers and GPs.
“I visited headspace here in Port late last year and learned the waiting list for young people to have an initial intake assessment was up to six weeks – far too long for a young person in need of help.
“Since that time I advocated strongly for additional funding for this centre to reduce its wait-time and provide young people with the support they deserve.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program is an investment of $152 million over seven years from 2018-19 by the Morrison-McCormack Government to reduce wait times at headspace services.
A total of 45 headspace clinics across Australia have received funding through this $24.2 million grant round. The Morrison-McCormack Government has invested $5.2 billion this year alone in mental health services and support.
EACH NSW Operations Manager Jenny Sinclair, who oversees the headspace Port Macquarie service, said the additional funding would ensure headspace provides the best possible mental health support to young people in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area.
“To say that we are super excited is an understatement as the new funding will provide us with the opportunity to improve efficiency and effectiveness of service provision,” she said.
“We will be introducing single-session family therapy, engaging mental health coaches, using Innowell which is an online patient-led platform and trialling innovative mechanisms to attract and retain a quality workforce.
“As restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic ease, we have seen an increase in calls for support from young people and families and this funding will help ensure we reduce the wait-lists, so more young people get the mental health services they need in a time frame that is appropriate.”
This new $841,714 funding grant is being delivered by Healthy North Coast through their North Coast PHN Program and is in addition to the $797,664 headspace Port Macquarie received from the Federal Government for the 2019-20 financial year.
Media Contact:
Mr Conaghan – Liz Spry 0418 928 744
