By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
Holt MP Anthony Byrne visited Fountain Gate Headspace last week to welcome the beginning of the facility’s services.
The new centre, located at Victor Crescent in Narre Warren, will be officially opened next February, but the local youth will be able to visit the facility and receive mental health support from 6 January.
Mr Byrne was joined by Anne Peek and Christine Crosbie from the South Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local when he visited the facility last Friday.
“After a long community campaign led by Casey’s youth it is exciting that a large headspace centre will be fully operational in January 2015,” Mr Byrne said.
“Casey’s youth should be proud of their campaign for this much needed service for the local community.
“Many young people go through some challenging times but to have a local mental health centre that can provide support and assistance to our rapidly growing youth population is vitally important.
“It is important that the families are aware of this facility in Fountain Gate which will be of great value to young people in our region.”
The opening comes after the facility was confirmed in August following concerns aired by federal Labor that the Narre Warren rollout may be in jeopardy.
Mr Byrne had previously raised doubts about the future of the facility following the release of the Federal Budget, which revealed the removal of Medicare Locals.
Funding to the South East Melbourne Medicare Local (SEMML), which was awarded the tender to run a Headspace office at the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre precinct in Narre Warren earlier this year, will cease on 30 June 2015 as the Federal Government moves to replace 61 Medicare Locals in the country with Primary Health Networks.
But Headspace CEO Chris Tanti confirmed the Narre Warren Headspace project would go ahead.
“To ensure the next round of Headspace centres are established within the original timeframes, Medicare Locals selected to operate new centres have been invited to lead the establishment under an interim agreement,” he said in August.
“The running of the Headspace centre in Narre Warren will be reviewed as we get closer to the transition from Medicare Locals to Primary Health Networks.
“We will work with the federal Minister for Health to determine the best way forward to ensure the sustainability and success of the centre.
“Our main priority is to provide the full range of Headspace services to young people and families in this community.”
Fountain Gate Headspace will provide mental health advice to young people aged from 12 to 25.
