The Australian Government is delivering free mental health care across the lifespan for Australians – with two new centres officially opening in South Australia.
Delivered in partnership with the South Australian Government, the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre and the Northern Adelaide Kids Hub have both started to support the local community.
These services are about making sure every South Australian can access mental health care when they need it, regardless of their age, postcode or bank balance.
Located at 7 Oldham Road, Elizabeth Vale, the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team of 15 health professionals, including a psychiatrist, social workers, mental health nurses and peer workers.
It joins a network of five Medicare Mental Health Centres in South Australia which have delivered more than 25,000 free walk in appointments.
The new service is co-located with the South Australian Government's Crisis Stabilisation Centre, creating a stronger, more connected system of care for people experiencing mental ill-health and distress.
Also opening in Elizabeth Vale is a new Medicare Kids Hub, which will provide free mental health support for children aged 0 to 12 and their families.
The Kids Hub is the second of its kind in South Australia and builds on a growing national network that is helping children and families access early intervention and support closer to home.
Both services will provide free, high-quality mental health care without the need for a referral or appointment.
The Australian Government has now delivered 57 Medicare Mental Health Centres across Australia, supporting more than 500,000 free walk-in appointments for people in their local communities.
The Government is also delivering a national network of 17 Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs, with the North Adelaide Kids Hub being the 16th.
People seeking information, advice or support can connect with Medicare Mental Health by calling 1800 595 212 or visiting www.medicarementalhealth.gov.au.
And for the Kids Hub - Families can call (08) 8209 0722 or visit medicarementalhealth.gov.au/finding-help/kids-hubs.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“The Albanese Labor Government is delivering free mental health care no matter your stage in life, post code or bank balance.
“In partnership with Minister Boyer and the Malinauskas Government, these new services will make it easier for more South Australians to access high-quality care close to home.
“Medicare Mental Health Centres across the country have already delivered more than 500,000 free walk-in appointments, with another 32 centres to be rolled out by 2030.
“This is what strengthening Medicare means: making sure more Australians can get free mental health care, when and where they need it.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Boyer:
"Mental health care should be easy to access when people need it most, and these new services in Northern Adelaide will help ensure more South Australians can get the right support, closer to home.
"By co-locating the Medicare Mental Health Centre with our Crisis Stabilisation Centre, we're creating a more connected system of care that helps people access support earlier and reduces the need for more acute interventions – easing pressure on our busy emergency departments.
"This partnership with the Albanese Government is increasing mental health services in South Australia and making it easier for people to access the care and support they need."
Quotes attributable to Member for Spence Matt Burnell:
“Helping those in our community access free mental health care when they need it, has always been a priority for me since being elected.
“We all know someone that has been through moments in life where it has been truly challenging, I am proud to be part of a Labor Government that is delivering a service, so our community has somewhere to turn to for support in their time of need.
“We know more and more young people are presenting for mental health assistance, it is impacting them at a critical stage of their life and services they can turn have been limited. The Albanese Government is delivering on this need with a new Medicare Kids Hub which will provide free support for children aged 0 to 12.”