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Government launches new COVID-19 mental health clinics in Victoria

From Monday 14 September 2020, Victorians will have access to additional mental health support with 15 new dedicated mental health clinics opening to the public.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Former Minister for Health and Aged Care

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General public

From Monday 14 September 2020, Victorians will have access to additional mental health support with 15 new dedicated mental health clinics opening to the public.

The clinics, announced on 17 August as part of a $31.9 million federal government mental health package to support Victorians during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been rapidly rolled out across the state at a cost of $26.9 million.

There will be nine HeadtoHelp clinics located in Greater Melbourne and six in regional Victoria. The locations are:

  • Greater Melbourne: Berwick, Frankston, Officer, Hawthorn, Yarra Junction, West Heidelberg, Broadmeadows, Wyndham Vale, Brunswick East.
  • Regional Victoria: Warragul, Sale, Bendigo, Wodonga, Sebastopol and Norlane.

Our Government recognises that the ongoing restrictions are having a significant impact on the wellbeing and mental health of individuals and communities in Victoria, and is committed to ensuring that support is available.  

These new clinics, branded with the HeadtoHelp logo, are a free service and, over the next 12 months, will provide a place within the community for people to access mental health care as early and as conveniently as possible.

The clinics are staffed by multi-disciplinary teams of mental health professionals which may include GPs, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and/or other allied health workers.

The HeadtoHelp clinics will provide on-site mental health support, and will also connect to other mental health services in their region, including intensive mental health care or social supports, to ensure people get the help they need when they need it. 

The clinics will play a key role in supporting our GPs, emergency departments, and hospitals by providing easily accessible mental health care.

The rapid establishment of the clinics has been overseen by a joint federal and state Mental Health Pandemic Response Taskforce co-chaired by Dr Ruth Vine, the Australian Government Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, and Pam Anders, CEO Mental Health Reform Victoria.

This collaboration between the Commonwealth and Victorian governments is ensuring that the new clinics will be integrated with local services and will support other enhancements to Victoria’s mental health system.

The clinics are being delivered by the Commonwealth Government’s Primary Health Networks (PHNs) which play a critical role in commissioning mental health services at a regional level.

In addition to the clinics, $5 million in funding is being provided to enhance existing digital and phone services for specific groups that are experiencing significant challenges during the restrictions in Victoria.

These services providers include The Butterfly Foundation, Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA), Q-Life, Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA), and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) Yarning SafeNStrong helpline.

This new support builds on the more than $500 million additional funding provided by our Government for mental health and suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 10 additional Medicare subsidised psychological therapy sessions for people subject to further restrictions.

We continue to demonstrate our firm commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians, with estimated annual federal expenditure on mental health services and suicide prevention estimated to be a record of $5.7 billion in 2020-21 alone.

Anyone concerned about their mental health can visit these clinics in person or call 1800 595 212 to talk to a health professional or connect to a service near them.

More information on how to access the HeadtoHelp clinics and additional digital supports can also be found at health.gov.au/resources or headtohelp.org.au.

HeadtoHelp Mental Health Clinic locations

Greater Melbourne

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

DPV Health

42-48 Coleraine Street
Broadmeadows, Victoria, 3047

IPC Health

510 Ballan Road
Wyndham Vale, Victoria, 3024

Clarity Healthcare

3/55 Nicholson Street
Brunswick East, Victoria, 3057

South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network

Berwick Healthcare

76 Clyde Road
Berwick, Victoria, 3806

Healius t/a Young Street Medical and Dental Centre

89-97 Young Street
Frankston, Victoria, 3199

Officer Medical Centre

4 Cardinia Road
Officer, Victoria, 3809

Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network

Access Health and Community

378 Burwood Road
Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122

Access Health and Community

2444 Warburton Highway
Yarra Junction, Victoria, 3797

Banyule Community Health

21 Alamein Road
West Heidelberg, Victoria, 3081

Regional Victoria

Western Victoria Primary Health Network

Ballarat Community Health

260 Vickers Street
Sebastopol, Victoria, 3356

Barwon Health

155 Princess Highway
Norlane, Victoria, 3214

Murray Primary Health Network

Bendigo Community Health Service

165-171 Hargreaves Street
Bendigo, Victoria, 3550

Gateway Community Health Service

155 High Street
Wodonga, Victoria, 3690

Gippsland Primary Health Network

Warragul Specialist Centre

197-199 Sutton Street
Warragul, Victoria, 3820

Inglis Medical Centre

10 Inglis Street
Sale, Victoria, 3850

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