The Darling Downs and Southern Queensland will soon have access to free, quality mental health care and support with a new Medicare Mental Health Centre to be established in Warwick.
Medicare Mental Health Centres provide a safe and welcoming place for adults to access free mental health information, support and care from multidisciplinary teams over extended hours, without needing an appointment.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride announced the new Medicare Mental Health Centre while visiting the Darling Downs region today.
The new service will be part of the network of Medicare Mental Health Centres being established across Australia, including 19 centres across Queensland.
As part of the Mental Health Bilateral Agreement, operational costs are being funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.
In the budget, the Albanese Government committed $29.9 million to enhance services at each Medicare Mental Health Centre, including access to psychologists and psychiatrists on call.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“Medicare Mental Health Centres provide free mental health care and support, closer to home.
“We are expanding the range and reach of free mental health services, better matching services with people’s needs.
“The new Warwick Medicare Mental Health Centre will offer comprehensive wraparound care for people in need across the Darling Downs and Southern Queensland.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Fentiman:
“We know access to free mental health care and support will be life-changing for so many residents here in Warwick.
“This essential healthcare is expanding across the state so that more people can access the care they need, closer to home.
“The new centre is a great example of how the Albanese and Miles Governments are working together to deliver this critical healthcare for Queenslanders.
“We’re committed to improving Queenslanders’ access to healthcare – and that’s exactly what this new facility will do.”
