Young people in the Colac area will have increased access to a range of specialist mental health supports and services with the opening of the community’s new headspace centre.
headspace Colac will open on Monday, 31 October and provide young people aged 12 to 25 and their families with access to a youth-friendly, free and confidential mental health and wellbeing service.
Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) has commissioned Barwon Health to operate the centre in partnership with Colac Area Health and WDEA Works.
WVPHN Acting Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Giddy, said the new service would help meet the growing need for youth support services in the Colac area.
“headspace Colac will offer full range of support services for young people covering physical and sexual health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and vocational support,” Mr Giddy said.
“The opening of the new centre is part of WVPHN’s commitment to ensuring communities across our region have access to primary health and mental health services when and where they are needed,” he said.
Barwon Health Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services clinical director Professor Steve Moylan said Barwon Health was excited to be the lead agency for the new headspace Colac service.
“We’re dedicated to expanding our youth mental health services in the Colac region and implementing headspace in partnership with experienced support agencies will see a significant improvement in the care available for young people,” said Professor Moylan.
“By integrating headspace Colac with our existing youth services, including our existing Jigsaw Youth Mental Health Service, young people will receive greater access and seamless care in a way that best suits them,” he said.
Commenting on the opening of this new centre, headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said headspace Colac would play a critical role in providing much needed support to young people, families, and the broader community.
“It’s critically important that any young person going through a challenging time gets help early,” said Mr Trethowan.
“We know 75 per cent of mental health issues emerge before the age of 25, so it’s vital that appropriate and accessible services are available for young people.
“Young people and their families have the right to safe and inclusive support available at services like headspace and I’m sure headspace Colac will be a welcome addition to the local community, providing young people and their families in the area with a space designed by them and dedicated to them that they can go to for help,” he said.
headspace Colac will be the third headspace centre to open in south-west Victoria with other centres located in Warrnambool and Geelong. Satellite services are also located in Ocean Grove and Portland.
headspace Colac is located at 15-17 Hart Street, Colac. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 11am to 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday.