Coker wants answers about headspace delay in Ocean Grove

CORANGAMITE Labor federal member Libby Coker wants answers about a proposed headspace facility in central Ocean Grove, and says it should have opened months ago.

In March 2019, the federal government promised $4 million towards the construction of a Health and Wellbeing Hub in Ocean Grove, which would also include a satellite headspace to help young people with mental health issues.

Ms Coker said the satellite service was supposed to open on July 1 this year but had not due to “stalled negotiations”, and a growing number of young people could not get access to a local support service.

She said her office was receiving an increasing number of calls from families and young people who were not coping well with the coronavirus pandemic, social isolation, job loss and
remote learning.

“At a time when we have seen a significant spike in youth suicides on the Bellarine and an increase in levels of anxiety and social isolation due to the pandemic, we need action,
not inaction.”

Ms Coker said having a local mental health support centre based in the heart of Ocean Grove, where young people could go to seek help and have a one-on-one discreet conversation when they needed it most, could save lives.

“We know Lifeline has received a record number of calls since Victoria’s coronavirus restrictions began. It’s clear the demand for the support is there.”

Bellarine Community Health (BCH) has been seeking feedback to help shape the Health and Wellbeing Hub, and closed submissions to a survey about the hub on Monday this week.

A BCH spokesperson said the organisation had been “actively progressing its contractual obligations to the Commonwealth” regarding planning of the hub, which is expected to be completed in 2022.

“The Hub will be developed by BCH and it is intended to accommodate the headspace Ocean Grove service once completed.

“BCH is in the process of identifying suitable land through the City of Greater Geelong, and as you are aware, COGG is now in caretaker mode until after the election.

“A month-long community survey has also just closed seeking input from the Ocean Grove community to assist in developing the design scope to enable the architects to put together concept plans.”

Barwon Child Youth and Family (BCYF) is the lead agent for all headspace services in the Greater Geelong region, including the proposed headspace in Ocean Grove.

BCYF executive director of client services Max Broadley said much like Drysdale’s headspace, BCYF would subcontract the Ocean Grove headspace service to BCH.

“This will enable young people accessing services on the Bellarine to benefit not only from the headspace service offering, but also the broader platform of services on offer from BCH.

“While contract negotiations to deliver the headspace Ocean Grove site have taken a little longer to work through than first anticipated, the negotiations have not stalled and are now in the final stages of being completed.

“Despite this delay, BCYF and federal funders have still been able to deliver an increase in support services via a range of other contracts, in liaison with BCH, to the Bellarine community. This has enabled more clinical supports to be delivered by Bellarine service providers including service and supports being delivered directly within schools on the Bellarine.”