News

Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol clinical director Professor Steve Moylan

The recent launch of the Central Geelong Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub marks a significant milestone for mental health services in Geelong, with Mental Health Minister the Hon. Ingrid Stitt officially opening the site on 4 September. This state-of-the-art facility is a prominent new home for adult and older adult community mental health care in our region, marking a new direction in how we support people in our community experiencing mental ill-health and addiction.

As a leader in mental health care delivery, we know how challenging it can be for people to connect with the care they want and need. Consumers and carers have talked for years of the need for simpler and more reliable ways to access support. Over the past  six years, we have utilised the opportunities arising from the State Government’s significant investment in our mental health system to focus on improving the depth and breadth of services we provide.

Through our new Hub, located at 181 Moorabool Street in the heart of the CBD, we now have the opportunity to consolidate these various existing services onto one, easily accessible, site – making it easier for everyone to access care. The service offerings now open including our Mental Health and Wellbeing Local, delivered in partnership with ermha365, Wellways and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, supported and complemented by specialist drug and alcohol (including our Harm Reduction team), Therapy Services, and our specialist adult and older adult mental health service teams.

With extended operating hours, which will include weekends and public holidays, the hub’s ground floor is a welcoming space for anyone seeking immediate support and care, with spaces that have been specifically designed to ensure people feel welcomed and safe when they reach out for help and advice. This modern approach makes it a fresh and identifiable place people can come to seek treatment that is separate from the Emergency Department.

This facility is the culmination of many years work from our team in MHDAS, and more broadly across Barwon Health. As we strive to address the evolving mental health needs of our community, opportunities like this demonstrate the change that can occur when there is commitment, collaboration and shared knowledge from groups that share a common goal towards improving mental health outcomes.

This Hub is part of our broader strategy that is aiming to provide prominent, reliable and accessible places across our region for people to access care, which will continue to be supported by digital and outreach services. Throughout October, we are acknowledging World Mental Health Month and raising awareness for the work that needs to be done to meet the demands for mental health support in our community. We are confident that this facility will remove barriers for many people to advance their recovery journey with easier access to the care, treatment, and counselling they need.