Wagga Wagga to receive headspace Plus upgrade

(From left): Contract Manager Samantha Gilchrist, Senior Manager Commissioning Janelle Dufty, CEO Stewart Gordon, Assistant Minister Emma McBride, Executive Commissioning and Operations Julie Redway, Chief Financial Officer Michaela Humphries, and Senior Manager Priority Populations Anita McRae.

Wagga Wagga has been named as one of 30 sites across Australia to be upgraded to headspace Plus, offering young people in the Riverina access to more comprehensive mental health and wellbeing support.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride visited Wagga Wagga today to confirm the expanded funding as part of the Australian Government’s $290 million national investment in the headspace network.

The announcement coincides with the opening of the newly expanded headspace Wagga Wagga centre at 141 Peter Street, which provides support for mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drug use, and work and study.

Assistant Minister McBride said the upgraded service would better meet the needs of local young people.

“The new and expanded headspace, located in the heart of Wagga Wagga, will make accessing support and care easier for local young people,” she said.

“The Albanese Labor Government is boosting the headspace network to meet growing need and deliver support closer to home.

“At the election, we announced a historic investment in mental health, and I’m pleased that as part of that, headspace Wagga Wagga will be upgraded to a headspace Plus.”

Since opening in 2008, headspace Wagga Wagga has delivered more than 10,000 occasions of service to young people across the region.

The service is funded by the Australian Government, commissioned by Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) and operated by Relationships Australia.

MPHN CEO Stewart Gordon said the announcement was welcome news for the community.

“It’s absolutely delightful to hear of the additional investment coming to headspace in Wagga, and we know it’s going to make such a difference to the young people in our community,” he said.

headspace Plus centres offer expanded services for young people with more complex needs, including coordinated care, multidisciplinary teams, and greater integration with other supports.

The Wagga Wagga centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Young people preferring to connect online can access free and confidential support via eheadspace at www.headspace.org.au or by calling 1800 650 890.