The Riverina will soon have access to free, walk-in mental health support with Medicare Mental Health Centres opening in Wagga Wagga and Young later this year.
Today, Assistant Minister Emma McBride announced the two new locations.
The centres will offer a safe and welcoming place to get on-the-spot care and support.
Services are free, with no appointment or referral needed.
Information, services, and support are delivered by highly trained care teams over extended hours.
Medicare Mental Health Centres are building on the established Head to Health network with a $29.9 million investment to lift capacity for each centre to provide free access to a psychologist or psychiatrist on call.
The Albanese Government is rolling out 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres across the country, including 22 in New South Wales.
The two centres in the Riverina are co-funded by the Australian Government and New South Wales Government as part of the mental health bilateral agreement.
An interim service opened in Wagga Wagga in May co-located with Mission Australia with the permanent site at 235-241 Baylis Street expected to open later this year.
More than $9.7 million in funding has been allocated to the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network to commission the two centres, which are operated by Grand Pacific Health.
Quotes attributed to Assistant Minister, Emma McBride:
“I was pleased to see work progressing so quickly on the Wagga Wagga Medicare Mental Health Centre today.
“People in the Riverina deserve mental health care and support closer to home, and we’re working with the NSW Government to provide quality services to meet the growing demand.
“The Albanese Government is committed to making mental health care more accessible for all Australians, and especially those who live in regional areas.”
Quotes attributed to Senator Deborah O’Neill:
“Access to mental health care and support can be difficult to access, particularly in regional and remote communities like the Riverina.
“These Medicare Mental Health Centres provide a gateway to accessing support, which is often sought out during the most difficult times in life.
“The Albanese Government is committed to delivering for regional communities, and that includes making mental health support more accessible and affordable.”
Quotes attributed to NSW Minister, Rose Jackson:
“Mental health is a right and we want those needing support across NSW to be treated in non-restrictive care that is safe.
“We want people in the Riverina to have access to mental health support and this new walk-in centre will do that with a range of supports and services available to those that need it.
“This is an example of how great things are possible when both the Australian Government and NSW Government work together to achieve outcomes for all Australians.”
