The Albanese Labor Government is boosting funding for headspace Wagga Wagga, expanding access to free mental health care for young people across the Riverina.
Over the next 12 months, headspace Wagga Wagga will transition to headspace Plus, an enhanced model of care designed to support young people experiencing more severe and complex mental health challenges.
The investment builds on the Government’s strong record of supporting local young people through the centre, delivering more than 4,300 free appointments to over 1,100 locals in the last year alone.
Through the expansion, headspace Wagga Wagga will increase its specialist workforce and service capacity, enabling more young people to access more care, closer to home.
The headspace Plus model brings together psychologists, social workers, counsellors and peer workers to provide coordinated, multidisciplinary support for young people with more complex needs, while retaining the accessible and youth-friendly approach that headspace is known for.
Wagga Wagga will be among the first 10 centres nationally to deliver the headspace Plus model.
Nationally, headspace provides free mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25 experiencing, or at risk of, mental ill-health, as well as assistance with physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drug issues, and work and study challenges.
Over the past year, the Albanese Labor Government has invested more than $211.5 million to establish 56 new headspace services across Australia, including the transition of 30 centres to headspace Plus.
For young people who prefer online support, eheadspace is available at: www.headspace.org.au or by phoning 1800 650 890.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“Young people in regional Australia deserve access to the mental health care they need, close to home.
“Two decades ago, one in five young people experienced mental health challenges. Today, it's two in five. The challenge has grown, and so must we.
“By doubling funding for headspace Wagga Wagga and upgrading the service to headspace Plus, we're making sure more young people can access coordinated, specialised support sooner.
“This is about meeting locals where they are with the help they need.”