Mind Australia is delighted to announce that a new Medicare Mental Health Centre is now open in Cairns, Queensland.
The Centre is located at 267 Mulgrave Road, Bungalow and open for community members to access free walk-in mental health, social and emotional wellbeing support.
It was officially opened by Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, The Hon. Emma McBride MP, and Member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith MP, on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
Medicare Mental Health Centres provide locals with free and confidential mental health care, information and support, without needing a referral, Medicare card or an appointment. They provide short-to-medium term care, and can help connect people experiencing mental health challenges with ongoing or longer-term free or lost-cost support that aligns with their needs and personal goals.
People can access support face-to-face, via telephone or telehealth, or online. The Centres are staffed by a team of highly qualified mental health professionals, including peer support workers who draw on their own lived experience of mental health challenges to support people. They take the time to listen, understand and provide guidance that is individualised and specific to each person’s needs.
The Cairns Medicare Mental Health Centre is proudly delivered by Mind Australia, North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS). It is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
Mind CEO Gill Callister said the Cairns Medicare Mental Health Centre marked an exciting new chapter in mental health support in Far North Queensland.
“Mind Australia has a long history of supporting people and communities in the Cairns and Hinterland region, dating back to the opening of Queensland’s very first Step Up Step Down service here in 2015,” Ms Callister said.
“Building on that strong foundation, we’re delighted to deliver the Cairns Medicare Mental Health Centre, which represents the next evolution in how we support mental health and wellbeing in the community. These ground-breaking centres act as the front door to the mental health system – they deal with people’s lives, not just their symptoms, to help people address their challenges before they reach crisis point.”
Mind provides a range of mental health support services that can support people in Cairns at every point of their recovery journey. These include the Cairns Community Care Unit, the Individual Recovery Support Program, the Group Based Recovery Support Program, the Step Up Step Down service and the Crisis Support Space.
No referrals or appointments are required to access support at Medicare Mental Health Centres.
Visit the Mind website to learn more about the Cairns Medicare Mental Health Centre. You can also call 1800 595 212, email [email protected] or visit the team in-person at the centre located at 267 Mulgrave Road, Bungalow.
Pictured are: Member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith MP, Mind Australia CEO Gill Callister, NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth, Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, The Hon. Emma McBride MP, and CHHHS CEO Leena Singh.