Mental Health Minister James Merlino said the new 12-bed $7.3 million facility will be located in Grieve Street and will deliver wellbeing and mental health treatment to under-11s in a place that makes it possible for them to live with and receive full support from their families. He added:
“We are building a new mental health and wellbeing system from the ground up ─ and that means delivering services dedicated to supporting young children in their recovery while keeping them with their families.”
Merlino said the role of the innovative facility is to act on key recommendations of the Royal Commission into the state's Mental Health System, which advocates the provision of models of care that are more tailored.
Flyer printing campaigns have often been rolled out to provide greater public awareness of facilities such as the new mental health centre at McLeod.
The Austin Health-operated, 24-hour centre will be open every day of the week and weekends, and it will be able to host a maximum of three families onsite whilst they are receiving family-centred, flexible therapy from clinicians who are specialists.
Providing support, care and treatment in a supportive, safe and residential setting is the primary aim of the new facility, which will also provide intensive therapy across a number of issues, such as school refusal, resolving disputes and medication management.