New headspace centres for Karratha and Port Hedland are one step closer to opening in mid-2021, with the announcement of Anglicare WA as the lead agency to establish and run the services.
This decision by WA Primary Health Alliance, the body responsible for commissioning headspace services in Western Australia, reflects the capability and capacity of Anglicare WA and creates a unique opportunity for a single organisation to lead and integrate the two new centres with the Australian first headspace Pilbara Outreach Trial.
Anglicare WA will build on their original community consultation and youth focused service design to ensure all three headspace services operate as a regional network, with young people benefitting from greatly from seamless access to care.
Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said the investment by the Federal Government for more headspace facilities across Durack was providing a real support network for local youth.
“I congratulate Anglicare WA on their continued success in being the successful lead agency to run the two new Pilbara centres, building on the great work they have already been doing through the headspace Pilbara Outreach Trial,” Ms Price said.
WA Primary Health Alliance Regional Manager Winny Henry said she was delighted Anglicare WA would continue and expand on the work they have been doing with young people across the Pilbara.
“The single provider model will allow these achievements to be built upon, recognising the importance of consistency of service delivery and integration with the wider Pilbara health and social services system,” she said.
“With the beginnings of a strong system reform of youth mental health services in the region, it is expected that the establishment of the new centres will see even greater collaboration between services and, importantly, continuity of care for young people.”
The new Centres will provide the full range of headspace services, being mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use.
This will complement the outreach service which takes headspace offerings outside the four walls of the centre to schools, youth centres and on country, essentially wherever young people meet up across the Pilbara.
Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the cutting edge, frontline work of the headspace Pilbara Outreach trial, as well as establish two new headspace centres in Karratha and Port Hedland.
“The headspace Pilbara Outreach Trial team has worked tirelessly within the communities of Karratha, Hedland and Newman over the past three years to create genuine connection and trust with the region’s young people and their families to engage them in the community,” Mr Glasson said.
“Our appointment as the lead agency to run the Pilbara’s two new headspace centres will allow our team to expand the local partnerships already established and build on the unique work of the Outreach program by delivering the full suite of headspace services in centres established specifically to meet the needs of the region’s young people.”
headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said the announcement was about the future opportunities for young people in the Pilbara.
“To know that headspace is expanding and is in your communities for the long term. The trusted brand of headspace across Australia has led to over 600,000 young people to seek help and get help through headspace centres, outreach and through online and telephone services,” Mr Trethowan said.
“We know more than 75 per cent of mental health challenges arise before the age of 25. This is why early intervention services such as headspace is so crucial in providing support to young people in the region who may be going through a tough time, to support them and to ensure they get back on track.”
Funding of $11million over 4 years has been provided by the Australian Government under the national headspace program to establish and run the two new centres and continue the Pilbara Outreach Trial.
The headspace Pilbara Outreach Trial will run for a further four years from 1 July 2020.
This activity has been made possible through funding provided by the Australian Government under the PHN Program.