Young people across the New England region will benefit from improved access to free mental health care with the official reopening of an upgraded headspace facility in Armidale.
The newly enhanced headspace Armidale, located at 150 Rusden Street, will expand its capacity and broaden its community outreach programs to better serve young people in Bundarra, Ebor, Guyra, Uralla, and Walcha. The upgraded facility will offer comprehensive support services for individuals aged 12 to 25, including mental health care, physical and sexual health support, assistance with alcohol and drug use, and guidance on employment and education.
Since its inception as a satellite service in 2018, headspace Armidale has assisted over 1,600 local youths in the region.
The headspace network, which currently includes 161 centers across Australia, is set to grow to 173 locations by 2025-26, thanks to a $320 million investment from the Albanese Government. To further enhance mental health services and access, the government is allocating an additional $27.1 million to the headspace Early Careers Program (ECP), which will support up to 1,500 students and 150 graduate placements across the network.
headspace Armidale receives funding from the Albanese Government through the local Primary Health Network and is operated by Centacare New England North West.
Assistant Minister McBride emphasized the importance of the expansion:
“The Albanese Government is committed to strengthening and expanding the headspace network so that young Australians can access the care they need close to home. It is crucial that all young people, including those in rural areas, have access to high-quality mental health care when they need it most. Easy access to mental health services and early intervention can significantly benefit young people, their families, and the broader community.”
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