Construction is ramping up at the new headspace Hamilton site with builders working hard to complete the fit-out.
Demolition work at the 48 Thompson Street site is complete, and remediation is underway, with the fit-out of the building expected to be finished by the end of the year. Services are anticipated to commence in early 2025.
Craig Wilding, CEO of Western Victoria Primary Health Network, emphasised the ongoing collaboration: “Western Victoria Primary Health Network, Brophy Family and Youth Services and headspace National continue to work together to develop the headspace Hamilton service despite earlier delays. Demolition works at the headspace Hamilton building, on the site at 48 Thompson Street, have been completed and remediation works have now commenced.”
Mr Wilding said: “We have had our share of unavoidable delays with the build, including lack of building materials and scarcity of building workforce. Despite these delays, we are very much looking forward to headspace Hamilton commencing services for local youth.”
He stressed the importance of this service for the community: “It is important to note that mental illness most often manifests in late adolescence and early adulthood. Early identification and intervention that can be provided by headspace services is crucial, because untreated mental health issues can have long-term consequences for young people’s education, employment, and overall well-being.”
Mr Wilding also pointed out the unique challenges young people in regional areas face. He said young people living in regional areas could face additional complexities than those living in metro areas.
“Access to services can be limited, requiring travel to neighbouring towns to access appropriate services. Young people don’t always have the supports around them to provide basic things like transport, and alternative transport options are limited making a local, accessible youth mental health services very important.”
Supporting Hamilton Youth in the Interim
Brophy Family and Youth Services has been actively supporting the local youth while awaiting the centre’s opening. Brophy’s Executive Manager – Health Services, Penny Bolton, praised the team’s dedication.
“There has been a tremendous amount of mental health and wellbeing support for young people across the past 12 months,” she said.
“The headspace Hamilton and Brophy teams are maintaining strong and ongoing connections with schools across Hamilton. In-school support was provided throughout 2023 and 2024, with the support focus for this year being group work. Many schools and also TAFE have welcomed this group work which was brilliant to see. Brophy has also facilitated school holiday programs for young people across the Southern Grampians Shire.”
Ms Bolton also mentioned that Brophy is exploring new ways to support Hamilton’s young people during the construction period: “eheadspace and regional phone counselling services were also being offered to schools in the interim period.”
Looking Ahead: Recruitment and Preparation
In preparation for the opening, Brophy has successfully filled key roles with highly qualified local professionals. “Pamela Mawson, the Operations Manager, and Deb Armstrong, the Clinical Lead, are currently working on setting up everything needed to meet the headspace model requirements,” Ms. Bolton shared.
“It’s exciting to have highly-qualified and passionate local people in these roles as we move forward towards the centre opening,” she added.
With local staff in place and construction on track, the headspace Hamilton centre is poised to provide vital mental health services to the region’s youth in early 2025.