Medicare Mental Health Centre Announced for Blacktown

Last Friday 16 August 2024, we welcomed Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention,  Hon Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Mental Health, Hon Chris Bowen MP, Member for McMahon and Hon Donna Davis MP, Member for Parramatta to the Adult Mental Health Centre in Parramatta for the announcement of four additional Medicare Mental Health Centres opening in NSW. The four locations announced were Blacktown, Campbelltown, Broken Hill and Central Darling in Western NSW.  

Medicare Mental Health Centres provide free, walk-in support for people struggling or in mental distress, and ongoing care for more complex mental health needs. In the recent budget, the Albanese Government has invested an additional $29.9 million to boost the clinical capability of the Medicare Mental Health Centre network to provide access to psychologists and psychiatrists on call. A total of 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres will open across the country, including 22 in New South Wales.  

Mental health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing covering a range of disorders including anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders. In a recent report conducted by The Australian Bureau of Statistics, it was reported that 42.9% of people aged 16-85 years had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life1. Since the Adult Mental Health Centre opened in Parramatta in July 2023, the team have provided over 2,525 hours of support, with 59% of service touch points being face-to-face, proving the value of the place-based support for our community.  

Following the announcement, Jelly Magirazi, Senior Commissioning & Development Manager at WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, commented, “We would like to thank the Commonwealth’s commitment to Western Sydney in supporting the opening of the Parramatta Medicare Mental Health Centre last year and soon the opening of another Centre in Blacktown. This will support community members by enabling them to access mental health support and reduce hospital presentations to emergency departments.”  

Mental health is affected by multiple socioeconomic factors including income and the location of services. The addition of a Medicare Mental Health Centre in Blacktown means residents will be able to access the free service, with no referral needed. The Centre will be staffed by social workers, peer workers and nurses, and will have access to psychologists and psychiatrists.