People living in Perth now have greater access to free mental health care with the opening of two new Head to Health adult mental health services in Gosnells and Mirrabooka.
The new sites will be operated by St John of God Social Outreach, with funding provided by the Australian Government under the Primary Health Network Program.
St John of God Social Outreach has been operating WA’s first and only Head to Health centre, located in Midland, since March 2022 but by the end of the year that number will grow to five when new sites are established in Armadale and Northam.
Head to Health provide access to mental health information, services and supports for adults delivered by multidisciplinary teams, including immediate support and follow up for people in crisis, and short-to-medium term care for those with moderate to severe mental health needs.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel and WA member for Burt, Mr Matt Keogh, said the addition of improved access to mental health services across Perth’s south-eastern suburbs was “much needed.”
“People in our community have been complaining to me for years about it getting harder to access health care but funding a new Head to Health service in our community and the tripling the GP bulk billing incentive later this year is turning that around,” he said.
“All Australians, no matter their postcode or their circumstances, deserve access to quality and affordable mental health care and support,” added the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Ms Emma McBride.
St John of God Social Outreach CEO, Ms Susan Cantwell, said the decision to locate the new Head to Health sites in areas where there was currently high demand for mental health services was welcomed.
“By creating a single point of entry that connects people to the most appropriate support services without requiring a referral or appointment, these centres will remove some of the most significant barriers to accessing appropriate and timely mental health care in the community,” she said.
St John of God Health Care already runs several community-based mental health and homelessness services provided free-of-charge to the public throughout Perth and regional WA.
Anyone can access these new services by visiting their nearest centre or making a free call to Head to Health on 1800 595 212 from 9am to 5pm, weekdays. No GP referral or appointment is needed, and interpreting services are also available.
- Midland Head to Health is located at 23 Old Great Northern Highway, Midland WA 6056, and opens between 10.00am – 8.00pm.
- The Gosnells Head to Health is located at Corfield Medical Centre, 288 Corfield Street, Gosnells WA 6110, and opens between 9.00am – 5.00pm.
- Mirrabooka Head to Health is located at the MedOne Medical Centre in the MYVISTA building, Unit 5/3 Doncaster Road, Mirrabooka WA 6061, and opens between 9.00am – 5.00pm (Monday to Friday).