YOUNG people in Ipswich are set to benefit from improved access to mental health support and care with a boost in funding for Headspace Ipswich.
Headspace Ipswich will receive $1.3 million through the Headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program to increase staff and reduce wait times.
This follows a $1.1 million funding commitment in 2022 to help improve services.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the $1.3 million for Headspace Ipswich would make it easier for teenagers and young adults in the region to access the mental health support they deserved.
“These services have never been more important for young people in our community,” Mr Neumann said.
“Whether they need short-term support or ongoing care, we are ensuring that a free, mental health service backed by Medicare is there for them.”
October 9 is National Headspace Day, and to celebrate the occasion Mr Neumann dropped in to Headspace Ipswich’s event in the Nicholas Street Precinct on Friday to meet with staff and members of the Youth Reference Group and announce the funding boost.
The Youth Reference Group recently identified a need for safety and designed a project that teaches young people self-defence, while also encouraging young people to connect with each other in public spaces in Ipswich.
As part of Friday’s Headspace Day celebration, the group held a range of activities to help young people boost their wellbeing, including a free self-defence class with Little Own Studios.
Headspace is the primary national platform for young people aged 12 to 25 years old who are experiencing, or at risk of, mild to moderate mental ill-health.
The Government’s $1.1 billion mental health election commitment will include funding for a new Headspace in Redbank Plains to support the increasing need for youth mental health services in the rapidly growing community.
