EMMA MCBRIDE, ASSISTANT MINISTER: I’m so pleased to be back in the Riverina today and here in Wagga to announce the permanent location for what will now be our Medicare Mental Health Centre. The Government is rolling out 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres across the country. We know that it is hard for people in distress or crisis to access mental health care close to home, particularly outside of our major cities. And we’re so pleased that here in the Riverina there will be a Medicare Mental Health Centre in Wagga, and another service in Young.
We know the difference it makes to be able to walk in to get care on the spot, free of charge, without an appointment and without needing a referral. These centres have, in the Budget, had a boost in funding of close to $30 million to make sure that every centre has access to a psychologist or psychiatrist on call. We know that it has been difficult for many people in regional centres to be able to access that expert mental health clinical support, and this will be a big boost in access to adults across Australia. So pleased to see this investment in regional Australia, and we know the difference that it will make. Having met some of the staff this morning – peer workers, mental health clinicians – local people that bring that trust from the community to be able to provide care within their own town. I’m so pleased that we’re being- the service has been commissioned by the Murrumbidgee PHN and to be joined by Narelle. And also, the service will be operated in a consortium model, including via Grand Pacific Health. So pleased to see services coming together to share their resources, to make sure people have a one-stop stop to be able to come and get the support and care they need.
I might hand over to Narelle and then to Adam, and then I can take questions.
NARELLE MILLS, ACTING CEO, MURRUMBIDGEE PRIMARY HEALTH NETWORK: From Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, we’re very pleased to be here today to announce the Medicare Mental Health Centres and to be part of a commission that service with Grand Pacific Health and their consortium partners. And Murrumbidgee PHN see this as a fantastic opportunity to bring much needed mental health services to our region, to here in Wagga [indistinct], and are really excited to be a part of this consortium people in our region and rural areas access to much needed mental health services. So thank you.
ADAM PHILLIPS, CEO, GRAND PACIFIC HEALTH: Yeah, this is a great, innovative approach. It's a real consortium approach. And so, four not-for-profits have got together and combined all their resources – so RIVMED, Directions, Mission Australia, and of course Grand Pacific Health. What's really good about regional Australia is that we tend to really pool our resources and get everyone working together for the community at large.
EMMA MCBRIDE: So, happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: So what do these Mental Health Centres look like? If someone's coming in, what can they expect when they walk in?
EMMA MCBRIDE: Someone will most likely be greeted by a peer worker. And we know sometimes the best support you can get is from someone who's walked in your shoes. They'll be staffed by a multidisciplinary team, so they might then next be met by a mental health nurse or a mental health social worker. They can be provided on the spot care and support if they're in crisis, and ongoing support if they have more moderate to complex mental health needs. And, as I said, a significant boost in funding in the Budget of an additional $30 million to make sure that every one of the 61 centres across Australia, including here in Wagga and in Young, will have on call access to psychologists and psychiatrists for when people do need that expert clinical support.
JOURNALIST: Why was Wagga, and as you've just said, Young, seen as important that we launch these new centres here?
EMMA MCBRIDE: We know that in Australia, 7 million people live outside of our major centres. We also know that because of workforce shortages and distribution challenges that access to expert mental health support and care has been hard to come by. We also know that cost has been a big barrier in regional centres to be able to get that expert mental health support and care. So, by providing a walk-in centre free of charge without the need for a diagnosis or a referral makes a big difference in access to care, particularly for people living in regional Australia.
JOURNALIST: I might ask you, Narelle, in terms of the situation in Wagga previous to this announcement- I’ll just- what services do we have in Wagga, and how much of a boost is this for the city?
NARELLE MILLS: So we've got- in Wagga, we've obviously got our headspace centres, but we also have our MyStep to Mental Health Wellbeing that the PHN also commission out to our GPH and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District. So we- whilst we do have services here in Wagga, there is- much needed for more additional services, particularly where people can walk in and access similar to a headspace centre. So where we give them that [indistinct] and access our service when they need it.
JOURNALIST: And I know that our primary health network has done a lot of work in trying to break down the stigmas associated with mental health. It's not always someone that's in complete crisis or in a homelessness situation- be an everyday person. How important is it that we break down that barrier in a city like Wagga?
NARELLE MILLS: Oh, absolutely. incredibly important. And I think the new centres will, enable, as Emma was saying, for people to be able to walk in, feel that comfort when they go in, and then are greeted by people who understand where they're coming from and being able to work with them to get them- people access to the care that they need. And that [indistinct] …
JOURNALIST: I guess, Emma, we're looking at a state budget being handed down next week. How does this go to sort of prelude what we can expect in terms of mental health support in regional areas and across the wider New South Wales?
EMMA MCBRIDE: I met with the New South Wales Minister, Rose Jackson, yesterday ahead of the New South Wales Budget. We work in strong collaboration with the New South Wales Government under the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bilateral. There were some pre-budget announcements from Minister Jackson, including boosting support of clinicians through assertive outreach teams. We spoke also about their safe havens based in communities and close to hospitals as an ED alternative. Working very closely with New South Wales, and there's been a couple of announcements ahead of the Budget next week. But really pleased to see that strong collaboration and a determination to use the resources that we have to have the most impact, particularly in the regions.
JOURNALIST: There is obviously a shortage of staff basically everywhere. How are you guys securing the staff here? And do you think we have enough staff to have a centre like this?
EMMA MCBRIDE: Workforce challenges affect us right across Australia. I'm a mental health worker myself. I'm a pharmacist who worked in mental health inpatient units at a regional hospital. I know the very real challenges of recruitment and also retention. One of the things we're doing through a centre-based model is being able to work in strong collaboration and here draw on the resources of for not-for-profits to be able to pull them together to have the most impact in the community. We have, of course, the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy, which I launched last October, for longer term planning to be able to attract and retain skilled and quality mental health workers. We're also diversifying that workforce, recognising the real value of lived experience. In the Budget, we've invested in setting up what will be the first national peer work association to mobilise and activate the peer workforce. So, looking at diversifying the workforce, working in multidisciplinary teams and in strong collaboration to be able to improve integration and collaboration and ultimately access for people, particularly in regional Australia.
JOURNALIST: How is this different from, for example, headspace? Like, what gap in the market are you guys having?
EMMA MCBRIDE: headspace was originally set up now nearly 17 years ago for young people aged 12 to 25 who were at risk of or experiencing mild to moderate mental ill health. This model, which started as pop-ups during COVID, is for adults. An adult will be able to have a similar experience where they'll be able to walk in without an appointment, without waiting for a referral or a diagnosis, and receive on-the-spot support and care and more ongoing support for moderate to more severe mental ill health. We know that there was a real gap in people being able to access ongoing support for more moderate to severe mental ill health and to support people within the community, so they don't end up in crisis and presenting to emergency departments in hospitals that I used to work in. So, really important support within the community, in addition to what someone will be able to get through their GP, to provide them that walk-in, on-the-spot care and more ongoing care for complex needs.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned the COVID pop-ups and how that kind of was around during those periods. Is that kind of a catalyst for what these centres are today and how that kind of shined a light on mental illness for people over the age of 25?
EMMA MCBRIDE: Yes. That's right. These now Medicare mental health centres build on what was the Head to Health model. And they started as pop-ups in COVID, recognising the increasing number of people in distress, the demand on already stretched services, and the need for something as an alternative to ED presentation or crisis support. So we're really pleased to now be seeing what was pop-ups during COVID become permanent centres right across the country. There'll be 61 across Australia, 22 in New South Wales, and two right here – one in the city of Wagga, and one nearby in Young.
JOURNALIST: When is this going to start operating?
EMMA MCBRIDE: It's already started operating. It started in- on 13 May, I believe, and already seeing people come through from existing waiting lists from other services and new clients coming to the service. So should be up and running in its permanent location by the end of October. And the one in Young, we expect to be operating also by the end of this year.
JOURNALIST: Have you seen any feedback as to how it's been going so far with the one operating?
EMMA MCBRIDE: Yes, I have, and it's so encouraging to see people feel that this is a welcoming place to come to, where they feel safe and supported and where they know that they can get quality mental health care. And importantly, with the cost of living at the moment, that it's free. We know how important it is for people to be able to get healthcare and cost has been a big barrier to mental health support, so to have it free and close to home will make it- is already making a difference and will make a much bigger difference in the future.
JOURNALIST: Support in drug and alcohol addiction is going to be included in the Wagga centre. What sort of services can we expect to see?
EMMA MCBRIDE: We know that alcohol and other drug use is something that impacts all communities and has a particularly big impact on individuals and those close to them. I have worked in AOD (alcohol and other drug) units, and I know how important it is for people to be able to access that care in the community. There is still a stigma that persists about alcohol and other drug use. Recently, I was able to attend on behalf of the Government the United Nations and their Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and we know that this is something that impacts many individuals and families across the community. So to have a safe place that they can go to with a harm minimisation approach that treats alcohol and other drug use as a health issue, rather than as a criminal or legal or justice issue, is really important in people being able to access services, to feel that they are getting that in a way that is safe, and where they'll be able to get the ongoing support and care they need.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned the four NGOs that are supporting this, along with the Primary Health Network. Does that help assure that there's the best possible care for each local centre?
EMMA MCBRIDE: It absolutely does. And this is what we're so keen to see, is organisations that are established in local communities that are trusted, where people feel safe and welcomed. And it's also the best use of resources. Acknowledging our efforts to grow the mental health workforce, there are shortages that exist. And to be able to pull those resources, including staff, makes a big difference in being able to get them the best out of those resources and the most impact for the local community.
JOURNALIST: Do you mind if I just ask you a question about something unrelated? Currently, we've got the inquiry looking at the implementation of recommendations from the rural health inquiry. The HSU and a number of community leaders across the Riverina have concerns about recommendations involving paramedic resources, particularly ICP, intensive care paramedics. Is there still work to be done in these areas from the Government?
EMMA MCBRIDE: I met with the New South Wales Minister for Health yesterday, and he was talking about the strong commitment in the enhancement of the paramedic workforce. And he's determined to make sure that is fairly distributed to regional centres to make sure of the increased allocation, that there is the sufficient boost in regional New South Wales. So, there was a firm commitment there from the New South Wales Health Minister to make sure that there is that improved access. And we know the important care that paramedics can provide and the difference they make, particularly in regional and remote New South Wales and across Australia.
JOURNALIST: The HSU says that no postcode should be without an ICP. Is that also the opinion of the Government?
EMMA MCBRIDE: As I said, I can only echo the sentiment of the New South Wales Minister, who I met with yesterday, but their intention is to make sure that wherever somebody lives, they get access to that support and care, including from paramedics.
JOURNALIST: Thank you.
EMMA MCBRIDE: Okay. Thank you.