By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THERE is no guarantee that a Headspace facility at Fountain Gate will be rolled out by the end of the year after last month’s Federal Budget revealed the impending removal of Medicare Locals, Federal MP Anthony Byrne said.
Funding to the South East Melbourne Medicare Local (SEMML), which was awarded the tender earlier this year to run a Headspace office at the Fountain Gate shopping centre precinct in Narre Warren, will cease on 30 June 2015 as the Federal Government moves to replace the 61 Medicare Locals throughout Australia with Primary Health Networks.
SEMML is also the tenderer for the existing Headspace in Lonsdale Street, Dandenong.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne said the plans for setting up a Headspace in Narre Warren could be forced into a hiatus until a new tenderer is approved.
He said he now doubted whether the Fountain Gate Headspace would be set up by November, as was previously expected.
“We need this service as soon as possible. Our area has a significant youth population and deserves a youth friendly mental health service as soon as possible,” he said.
“Why should our young people be denied a service they deserve and desperately need.”
But a spokesperson for Headspace said the organisation was committed to working within the “original timeframes” allotted to setting up a facility in Narre Warren.
“Discussions with the Federal Government in the coming weeks will determine next steps and we look forward to providing the community with an update soon,” the spokesperson said.
“Young people and families in the area can look forward to receiving mental health and wellbeing support through Headspace in the near future.
“Existing Headspace centres, including the centre in Dandenong, will continue to operate and provide services to young people in their communities.”
A spokesperson for Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton could not specify how long the new tender process for the Narre Warren facility would take, but reaffirmed that discussions are currently underway between Headspace and the Department of Health.
The spokesperson said plans for a Headspace facility at the Fountain Gate precinct were not in jeopardy.
“The government is delivering on our commitment to deliver 100 Headspace sites across Australia by 2017-18,” the spokesperson said.
The Headspace service provides support in areas ranging from mental health issues, to drug and alcohol problems, physical health, social and vocational support.
Those in need of immediate assistance or who need someone they can trust to talk to can phone 131 119.
