Two new headspace centres will begin providing support to young people in our region early next year.
South Western Sydney Primary Health Network will be funding Grand Pacific Health to establish the two centres at Narellan and Edmondson Park.
Grand Pacific Health is a recognised health service provider which is currently the lead agency for seven headspace centres across NSW, including a centre at Liverpool.
SWSPHN acting chief executive officer Kristen Short says headspace centres offered unique services to young people which reflected the needs of their local community.
“Grand Pacific Health, with its experience in providing services tailored to the needs of diverse communities across the state, is well placed to establish and deliver our region’s two new headspace centres,” she said.
Headspace is a free (or low cost) health service for young people aged 12 to 25.
Its centres provide support for young people with mild to moderate mental illness, including those associated with physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs and vocational and educational needs.
Clients have access to a youth friendly environment with experienced staff, including psychologists, counsellors, youth workers and doctors.
“Headspace is a vital service, a one-stop-shop for young people and their families, designed not just for young people but with them,’’ Ms Short said.
“The Department of Health and Aged Care has heard the community’s concerns and has addressed the gap in youth mental health supports in the South Western Sydney growth corridor with the provision of these two new headspace centres,” she said.
“SWSPHN is pleased to be able to facilitate and fund services like headspace which improve access to mental health services in our region.”
To access the service, young people can drop into their local headspace centre or phone the centre to make an appointment, without a doctor’s referral.
The Narellan and Edmondson Park headspace centres will complement other SWSPHN funded youth specific mental health services including headspace Campbelltown, Liverpool and Bankstown, and ReFrame in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Shires.
