The Albanese Government is making sure Australia’s primary youth mental health service – headspace – is fit-for-purpose, appropriately resourced and well-integrated with other services.
Concerningly, the mental health of Australia’s young people is declining, with almost 40 per cent of young people experiencing a mental disorder in the last 12 months, almost double the rate of mental ill health in the general population. Increasing rates of psychological distress are even more evident in the LGBTIQA+ and the First Nations youth populations.
The Evaluation of the National headspace Program concluded headspace provides a comprehensive and complete set of components to address the mental health needs of young people, as well as making recommendations to improve this flagship service.
The Government has commenced work on several of the recommendations in the evaluation which will enhance mental health services for young people across the headspace network. Among these are further funding to existing services, targeted wait-time reduction measures, and initiatives to continue strengthening workforce.
The Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook has allocated $3.5 million to implement recommendations nine and ten of the Evaluation. These two recommendations encouraged the Government to undertake a detailed review of current cost information and to develop a new funding model. This funding will also support the Government’s response to the recommendations to improve the governance of the national headspace network.
headspace is an important part of Australia’s mental health system and making sure it continues to provide high quality services to young people is essential to the Albanese Government.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Government welcomed the headspace evaluation because it provided a greater understanding of the effectiveness of the headspace program, while highlighting what needs our swift attention.
“It’s critical that headspace services operate in the most effective way to ensure they are delivering the tailored supports to meet the needs of young people now and into the future.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“headspace is central to Australia’s youth mental health service system and this investment gives us the opportunity to build on some of the great work happening across the network.
“The Government’s priority is on making sure headspace is funded, staffed and supported to provide quality care to young people where and when they need it and is reaching those who have struggled to get care in the past.”
Quotes attributable to Jason Trethowan, CEO headspace National
“The independent evaluation confirms headspace is a cost-effective and well-designed organisation aligned with the mental health needs of young people.
“headspace is constantly exploring new ways to strengthen and grow our services, and we’ve already undertaken work to address the opportunities and challenges identified by the evaluation.”
