Victoria’s Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt has officially opened the new centre for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton (servicing Melton City).
While the service has been supporting people in Melton since late 2023, the centre – located at 223 Bridge Road, Cobblebank VIC – is now open for community members to access free walk-in mental health and wellbeing support.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals support Victorians aged 26 years and over to get mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support closer to home. All support is free, voluntary and easy to access, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.
These services have a ‘how can we help’ and ‘no wrong door’ approach, to enable more people to access the support they need in a timely way, including those who have previously been unable to find the right care or experienced barriers to accessing services.
“The Melton Mental Health and Wellbeing Local will make it simpler for the community to access free, walk-in support when they need it, close to home,” Minister Stitt said at the service’s official opening on Friday 28 November.
Mind is the lead provider of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton, which is delivered in partnership with IPC Health, Western Health and Thorne Harbour Health.
The service provides face-to-face, outreach, telehealth and telephone services, and walk-in consultations for people seeking support for their mental health and wellbeing. Since late 2023 people from Melton City have been reaching out for support with financial stress, housing challenges, unemployment and help with forming social connections.
Mind Australia Acting CEO Denise Cumming said staff’s existing ties with local multicultural communities have contributed to the success of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local. Staff at the service have strong connections with local African, Indian and south-east Asian communities.
“People are reaching out for support from this Mental Health and Wellbeing Local because of positive word of mouth. That’s a great sign that the service is providing helpful support, and establishing a name in this diverse community as a place people can get help for their mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Cumming said.
“We know that our understanding of mental health – and how to support someone’s mental health – differs from culture to culture. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton has identified this, and is working to create connections and pathways to support people to access support.”
Mind is also the lead provider for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in Dandenong, Bendigo/Echuca, Cardinia and Mt Alexander.
To find your nearest Mental Health and Wellbeing Local call 1800 332 501 or visit the Better Health MHW Locals page.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals are not crisis services. In an emergency which is life-threatening or where there is immediate risk of harm to anyone, call Triple Zero (000). For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders can also call 13 YARN on 13 92 76. 13 YARN is a 24/7 national crisis telephone service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.