Second headspace centre confirmed for Bendigo as federal mental health funding expands

A second headspace centre will open in Bendigo's northern suburbs after the federal Department of Health confirmed funding for the new facility, responding to long waiting times at the existing Bendigo headspace centre and the demographic growth in the northern growth corridors that has expanded the target age group significantly.

The new centre, to be located in Strathdale to serve the northern suburbs, Eaglehawk, and the growth precincts of Jackass Flat and California Gully, will provide mental health assessments, individual and group therapy, alcohol and other drugs counselling, and sexual health and general health services for young people aged 12 to 25. Services will be free or low-cost, with no requirement for a GP referral.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the Bendigo expansion was part of a national program to reduce headspace waiting times, which had blown out to more than eight weeks in many centres as demand — particularly for eating disorder and anxiety services — had surged following the pandemic. "Young people in Bendigo should not wait two months to see a mental health professional. That is not acceptable and we are fixing it," he said.

The existing Bendigo headspace centre, which opened in 2012 and has been operating well above its designed service capacity for the past three years, will continue to serve the city centre and southern suburbs. Centre management confirmed that the reduction in its catchment population once the northern centre opens will allow it to substantially reduce waiting times and expand its capacity for complex presentations.

The new centre is expected to see its first clients within 12 months.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.