Headspace Open for Hawkesbury Youth
Access to mental health services for young people in the Hawkesbury has become significantly easier following the opening of a new Headspace location in the centre of Richmond on Friday, March 1st.
The location, which Wentworth Healthcare and Uniting NSW developed, provides free intervention services to youth aged 12-25, providing support with a wide range of issues like mental and physical health, work and study, as well as alcohol and drug needs.
The centre was officially opened with a ceremony attended by over 60 people, all in support of youth mental health.
Headspace’s goal is to offer timely and tailored support to young people so that they can receive the right care when they need it.
For the Hawkesbury site, Wentworth Healthcare and Uniting heard feedback from 129 young people in the community, as well as teachers, psychologists, youth officers and parents to shape the centre into a welcoming place for young people.
Colo High School graduate Leah Venables was one of those young people on the Headspace Hawkesbury Youth Advisory Committee, and she spoke on the opening day about her excitement in seeing the centre now open: “I know what it’s like to be a young person in the Hawkesbury, and I know a lot of young people who have struggled with their personal lives and mental health. Personally, I was very anxious as a child and had a lot of crisis periods, and having a space like this opens the door to so many conversations that need to be had.” 
Wentworth Healthcare CEO Lizz Reay stressed the hard work that went into getting Headspace Hawkesbury open and how important it is for the local community: “We knew that young people in the Hawkesbury wouldn’t be able to go to the Penrith Headspace, so we kept advocating for this centre along the journey.
We’re really excited about the systems this space will provide to young people now and into the future, so we’re really excited to be here with everyone else today.”
Longtime advocate for youth mental health Susan Templeman MP was elated to see the Headspace Centre finally open after years of campaigning for its place in the Hawkesbury: “All of us already knew there was a need here, no matter what the people with pens said – we knew there was a need here.
There’s been fantastic support from community members and young people, and that’s been the key to all of this. Our job now is to spread the word and bring this service alive for our young people and their families.”
The Headspace Centre is open from Monday-Friday from 9am until 5pm every day, except public holidays. After-hours appointments can be made from 5pm-6pm by individual arrangement. Walk-ins without a referral or appointment are also welcome – head to https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/hawkesbury/ to learn more.
