Head start for new Hawkesbury headspace
by Maryann Jenkins
It ’ s official . Hawkesbury will finally get its own headspace centre to provide early intervention mental health services to 12-25-year-olds - regardless of who was going to win the federal election .
The announcement was made by Health Minister Greg Hunt at Hawkesbury Police Citizens Youth Club on 17 March before kids from RuffTRACK and the PCYC .
Flanked by Senator for Western Sydney Marise Payne and Liberal candidate for Macquarie Sarah Richards , Mr Hunt confirmed $ 4.4 million has been allocated over four years to set up a full local service through the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network .
And , it ’ s also been given a head start of its own with an additional $ 500,000 upfront to immediately begin local
Minister Greg Hunt at the announcement with Ms Richards .
outreach services that have been sorely lacking in this region .
Wentworth Healthcare ’ s CEO Lizz Reay told the Independent she was excited at the announcement , which will see the network begin community consultation , find a suitable Hawkesbury location and begin tender processes for construction , training and recruitment .
“ We have been advocating for additional youth mental health services in our region for some time and are pleased the federal government has listened to these concerns ,” she said .
“ The additional funding announced means that we can set up an outreach service while we establish a centre , so we can start to help young people in the interim .
“ Headspace services play an important supporting role … Hawkesbury youth have been through so much over the past few years , from drought to bushfires , a pandemic and multiple floods .”
This confirmation comes none-too-soon for Macquarie MP Susan Templeman .
Just a week prior , the vocal long-time advocate for a Hawkesbury headspace had announced Labor would provide $ 3.6 million if it was elected to government for a centre , saying the “ Liberals have had nine years to do this ” pointing out they could have done it after the bushfires ,
KITCHENS & JOINERY floods or during the lockdown .
Ms Templeman told the Independent she welcomes the government ’ s announcement and “ would never let politics stand in the way of better mental health services for young people ”.
“ To everyone who ’ s fought alongside me for a headspace , this is your win .”
Liberal Senator for Western Sydney Marise Payne said the new centre will be a crucial resource for the region .
“ By providing specialist care in a safe and friendly youth-focused environment , headspace Hawkesbury will play a critical role in supporting young people to address complex mental health issues ,” Senator Payne said .
“ Liberal for Macquarie , Sarah Richards , has advocated tirelessly on behalf of the Hawkesbury community to lock in this significant investment .
“ In fact , Ms Richards successfully secured a commitment from the government in 2019 to establish headspace Katoomba which … has
All assembled ( l-r ): Wentworth Healthcare Primary Health Network CEO Lizz Reay , Senator for Western Sydney Marise Payne , PCYC manager David Zammit with PCYC staff , Windsor Police , Sarah Richards and PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle . been embraced by the Blue Mountains community , and I have every confidence the Hawkesbury community will similarly welcome this new service .”
The Hawkesbury resource will join current centres Katoomba , Lithgow and Penrith , and be one of 10 new centres funded under the 2021-22 Budget , which included $ 278.6 million to continue safeguarding the mental health of young people by expanding these services .
Wentworth Healthcare is the provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network which will commission Hawkesbury headspace .
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 143 // APRIL 2022 5