South Western Sydney welcomed the official opening of Australia’s 50th Medicare Mental Health Centre – a new service at Campbelltown supporting people experiencing mental health concerns – on Friday, 17 October.
SWSPHN is funding Grand Pacific Health and its partners Odyssey House NSW, Relationships Australia NSW and Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, to provide free, walk-in mental health and wellbeing support for Campbelltown and surrounding areas.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, joined Macarthur MP Michael Freelander, Werriwa MP Anne Stanley, State Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson, State Camden MP Sally Quinnell, Campbelltown Mayor Darcy Lound, and representatives from SWSPHN, Grand Pacific Health, its partners and the community for the service’s official launch.
Medicare Mental Health Centres offer a welcoming place where everyone can access free and confidential mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours.
Services are free and you don’t need an appointment or referral.
The support offered includes:
- immediate help and follow-up for people who are in distress
- support for people with mental health concerns
- support for carers and families of people experiencing mental health distress
- help connecting people with other services to support them in the future, from health to mental health, and social supports like housing and employment
SWSPHN Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amy Prince (pictured right), said there were high levels of psychological distress in South Western Sydney, with an estimated 221,864 people or 19.8 per cent of the region’s population likely experiencing a mental illness in the 12 months to June 2024.
“The prevalence of mental illness in our region is expected to increase within the next 10 years, and Medicare Mental Health Centres are playing a key role in improving access to appropriate care,” she said.
“Many people experience mental health challenges. This centre will ensure any resident can walk in and receive support, without a referral and at no cost.
“SWSPHN is pleased to see the opening of a second Medicare Mental Health Centre in our region, at this site in Campbelltown which is easily accessible by public transport and newly fitted out to meet the needs of our community.
“We’re also looking forward to again working closely with experienced mental health service provider Grand Pacific Health, which delivers SWSPHN-funded headspace centres at Oran Park, Edmondson Park and Liverpool, and Medicare Mental Health Centres across four other sites in NSW.”
Grand Pacific Health Chief Executive Officer, Adam Philips, said his organisation was thrilled to be able to continue supporting the Campbelltown region.
“This is the fifth Medicare Mental Health Centre we’ve launched,” he said. “We really believe in the model of care and look forward to offering integrated, wrap around care for anyone who comes through the door.”
Campbelltown is the second Medicare Mental Health Centre site in South Western Sydney.
It complements the SWSPHN-funded Liverpool Medicare Mental Health Centre at 203 Northumberland Street, Liverpool which opened in 2023. In the last financial year alone, the Liverpool centre provided support to more than 800 people.
Access support from Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre
The Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre is at Suite 5.05, 8 Dumaresq Street, Campbelltown.
People who need support, can drop into the centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 5pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
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People who are not able to visit the centre in person can call 1800 595 212 to speak to an experienced professional to receive advice or a referral to a service which meets their needs, from 8.30am to 5pm weekdays (except public holidays).
Access more information and mental health resources
Find out more about Medicare Mental Health Centres in South Western Sydney on the SWSPHN website.
Find digital mental health resources from trusted providers on the Medicare Mental Health website
Pictured cutting the ribbon, from left, Sally Quinnell, Rose Jackson, Emma McBride, Darcy Lound, Anne Stanley, Michael Freelander and Amy Prince.