The much-anticipated Head to Health facility announced by the Coalition Government last year has progressed a step further with FocusOne Health being announced as the service provider.
Mr Pasin said the Head to Health rollout was a key initiative of the former Coalition Government, who embarked on landmark reform of the mental health system.
“While in Government, the Coalition invested a record $6.8 billion in mental health and suicide prevention services in the 2022/23,” Mr Pasin said.
“The Coalition has a track record in delivering easy to access mental health support for Australians, establishing the headspace model in 2006 and then initiating the Head to Health rollout in 2021 with Mount Gambier being one of the initial locations for the adult mental health support services,” Mr Pasin said.
Much like the service headspace offers to young people of the Limestone Coast, the Head to Health site in Mount Gambier will offer a welcoming, ‘no wrong door’ entry point for adults to access mental health information, services and support.
“Upon being elected in 2013, I set about advocating within Government for a headspace in Mount Gambier which was delivered in 2016.
“My successful campaign for a Head to Health facility in 2021 means another important link in the network of services existing here in the Limestone Coast,” Mr Pasin said.
The Mount Gambier Head to Health site will be operated by FocusOne Health, with Federal funding of $3.4 million secured to establish and operate the centre.
As part of the growing Head to Health service platforms for country South Australians, Country SA PHN is pleased to commission experienced service provider FocusOne Health to operate the Head to Health site in Mount Gambier.
“It is exciting to see the progression of a highly visible site to support adults and their families in the South-East,” said Country SA PHN Chief Executive Officer Mark Hartigan.
“The Head to Health site will offer access to information and services designed to empower, support, and improve psychological and physical health, and social and emotional wellbeing.
These services will be provided by an experienced team of trained mental health workers, supported by other specialised allied health professionals.
Working to complement existing services, the Head to Health site will bridge a gap in mental health support for adults the Limestone Coast community.” Mr Hartigan said.
FocusOne Health Chief Executive Officer, Scerina Rasheed said, “FocusOne Health is pleased to have the opportunity to provide this valuable service to the community and we look forward to working with community stakeholders to establish the Head to Health site”.
“The Head to Health site will support people to find the mental health and wellbeing information, support and services they need. As a service provider with over 28 years’ experience in delivering health and mental health services for rural communities, we understand how important it is to have accessible mental health supports”.
BACKGROUND
Mr Pasin has been advocating for a Head to Health service since the announcement of 24 new satellite centres as part of the 2021-22 Budget in May 2021.
Mr Pasin held two community meetings to coordinate support and then presented a petition to Minister Greg Hunt in February 2022.
Head to Health for Mount Gambier was then announced by the Coalition Government in April 2022.
This follows Mr Pasin advocating for and delivering a headspace for Mount Gambier in 2016.
COUNTRY SA PHN
Country SA PHN is responsible for commissioning Commonwealth directed funding for primary health services throughout regional South Australia. It is the health network responsible for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery while improving the coordination of patient care.
Established by the Australian Government, Country SA PHN exists to bridge the gap of health inequity and access in rural South Australia by building a collaborative and responsive health care system. Country SA PHN covers 99.8% of the state geographically, incorporating approximately 30% of South Australia’s total population.
FOCUS ONE HEALTH
FocusOne Health is a locally run not-for-profit organisation providing quality primary health care and wellbeing services embedded in regional communities.
FocusOne Health was originally established as the Riverland Division of General Practice Inc, under the Commonwealth Government’s Divisions of General Practice program in 1994, as an independent, membership-based organisation. Since that time, it has evolved into a Primary Health Care organisation with a focus on providing integrated, coordinated, locally focused and responsive services in line with locally identified health needs.
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