A new headspace centre in Wonthaggi was officially opened, welcoming a new chapter for youth mental health in Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
The event was well-attended, with local community leaders, headspace staff, service providers and young people showing their support for the new centre. Among the attendees were Mr Russell Broadbent, MP, Member for McMillan, representatives from centre operator Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) and the centre’s consortium organisations, staff from contract manager Gippsland Primary Health Network (PHN) and other service providers.
Local young people were also in attendance, including members of the centre’s Youth Advisory Group, a group of young people who provide direct input to the centre to ensure that it and its services and events are inclusive and relevant.
The event’s proceedings began with a Welcome to Country, performed by Steve Parker, followed by speeches by Mr Broadbent MP, Dr Sinead de Gooyer, Chair of Gippsland PHN, Vikki Ryall, headspace National Office Executive Director, and Dr Andrew Bickerdike, CEO of RAV.
headspace Wonthaggi is a full service centre that commenced delivering services on 2 January 2019. It supports young people across Bass Coast and South Gippsland, including through five outposts at Youth Clinics in Wonthaggi, Foster, Leongatha, Korumburra and Cowes.
Dr Bickerdike said that RAV had an established presence in Gippsland and was looking forward to increasing youth mental health services in the area.
“RAV has a long history of providing services in Gippsland and providing mental health services, including at headspace Bairnsdale. We’re proud to now be leading a consortium of local organisations to deliver headspace Wonthaggi’s services,” Dr Bickerdike said.
headspace CEO, Jason Trethowan said that “headspace Wonthaggi extends the important early intervention work of headspace around the country. headspace is helping thousands of young people across Australia who are going through a tough time.”
“Since headspace was established in 2006, over 450,000 young people have visited a headspace centre across Australia and we know that headspace Wonthaggi will play an important role in what headspace will achieve in the future in the critical area of youth mental health and wellbeing.”
Following the official proceedings, attendees had the opportunity to tour the new centre and chat with headspace staff and members of the Youth Advisory Group about the new centre and its services.
“headspace helps me out and through the Youth Advisory Group and centre I’ve made new friends who have welcomed me with open arms. I hope other young people will feel the same and I’d invite them to come to headspace to see how it can help them,” Youth Advisory Group member, Till, said.
headspace Wonthaggi Centre Manager, Ms Cate Chaiyot, said that the local community in Wonthaggi, as well as wider communities across Bass Coast and South Gippsland, had already embraced the new headspace services.
“It’s great to see not only young people but community members of all ages welcoming headspace. We’ve already supported lots of young people and we invite all young people, and their friends and family to contact us and have a chat about how we can help,” Ms Chaiyot said.
Source: Relationships Australia Victoria