Media event date:
21 May 2024
Date published:
21 May 2024
Media type:
Media release
Audience:
General public
Central Queenslanders will soon have a safe and welcoming place when they need extra support with their mental health.
A new Medicare Mental Health Centre will be established in Rockhampton by the end of the year, offering adults free mental health care.
The Rockhampton Medicare Mental Health Centre will offer free, walk in, on-the-spot mental health care and support.
The Albanese Government is rolling out 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres across Australia. Building on the former Head to Health model by investing $29.6 million to lift the clinical capability and reach across the network.
Medicare Mental Health Centres offer adults mental health information, clinical services and support delivered by highly trained multidisciplinary care teams. All centres will have psychologists, psychiatrists, and GPs on call.
The new Rockhampton service will complement a network of Medicare Mental Health Centres being established across Queensland.
There are three Medicare Mental Health Centre currently operating across Queensland in Ipswich, Kingaroy and Townsville.
The Federal Government is working in collaboration with the Queensland State Government to deliver greater access to mental health support and care with more centres scheduled to open across the state later this year.
The Central Queensland Wide Bay Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network will commission the Rockhampton Medicare Mental Health Centre.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister, Emma McBride:
“The Albanese Government is delivering much-needed health services for Central Queensland – first a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and soon a Medicare Mental Health Centre.
“The new Rockhampton Medicare Mental Health Centre will give Central Queenslanders free, walk-in mental health support and care close to home.
“Making mental health care more accessible for Australians, particularly in rural and regional areas, is a high priority for our government”.
Quotes attributed to Nita Green, Senator for Queensland:
“As a Senator for Queensland, I know how important it is for regional communities to have access to quality mental health care and support.
“The new Rockhampton Centre will give locals a free, walk-in service they can turn to in times of need.”
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-emma-mcbride-mp/media/new-medicare-mental-health-centre-to-open-in-rockhampton?language=en
