Federal Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips (centre) with (from left) Emily Nield from headspace Shellharbour/Kiama, Grand Pacific Health’s Kathryn Baudinette, Charo Serventy from headspace Shellharbour/Kiama and Joanne Telenta from COORDINARE South Eastern NSW PHN. Photo: Supplied.
A long-awaited mental health service for young people in Kiama is now up and running.
The free mental healthcare and support service, headspace, opened in Manning Street last week (12 August).
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the mental health of young people around Kiama had suffered in recent years with bushfire, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Youth in the Kiama region previously had to travel to Nowra or Wollongong to access headspace services,” she said.
“This distance placed unnecessary barriers to accessing appropriate mental health care. The opening of a dedicated headspace in Kiama will help to alleviate these barriers.”
headspace provides free, confidential access to people aged 12 to 25 in areas of mental health care, alcohol and other drug treatment, physical or sexual health care, bullying and relationships, school or work issues, and vocational support.
Operated by Grand Pacific Health, headspace Kiama is linked to headspace Shellharbour, which opened in late May.
At the Shellharbour opening, headspace CEO Jason Trethowan told Region Illawarra there was a high demand for services across the Illawarra.
He said nearly two in five Australians aged 16 to 24 had experienced a mental health disorder in the previous year.
The welcoming interior of headspace Kiama. Photo: Supplied.
“That’s why the work happening at headspace Shellharbour, and at headspace centres across the country, is so important,” he said.
“Providing young people with a place where they can get friendly and inclusive mental health services is at the core of all we do at headspace.”
Mrs Phillips said headspace Kiama would also support local schools, youth and mental health services that had wrapped their arms around young people and the community following the tragic loss of young lives to suicide.
“The Kiama community has had to bear a burden that no-one ever wants to experience, but the community has responded with empathy, care, support, creativity and determination,” she said.
“There has been no greater need for this facility than in Kiama, which is why I fought so hard for it.
“I’ve seen what a difference headspace can make to the lives of local young people, delivering the centre I promised in Batemans Bay and seeing the amazing work of headspace Nowra over many years.”
headspace Kiama is funded by the Federal Government and commissioned by the COORDINARE Primary Health Network. The Australian Government is investing more than $320 million to expand the headspace network to 173 services by 2025-26.
With the addition of the Kiama service, there are now 162 headspace centres operating nationally.
headspace Kiama is at 11/65 Manning Street; phone 4225 5640. It is open Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 am to 5 pm and on Tuesdays from 9 am to 6 pm. Appointments are available in person, by video or by phone. headspace is available online or by phoning 1800 650 890.
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