David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's always an immense privilege to meet the people working on the front line of mental health care in our community—people who show up each day with empathy, professionalism and purpose. Right now two in five young Australians are experiencing mental health distress. That is double the rate from 20 years ago. During Mental Health Month I joined the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, to visit the Liverpool Medicare mental health centre, right in the heart of south-west Sydney. It's one of 50 Medicare mental health centres now open across the country, part of a new model of care that brings mental health support into the middle of communities—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

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It's one of 50 Medicare mental health centres now open across the country, part of a new model of care that brings mental health support into the middle of communities where people live, work and seek help. Since opening in 2023, the Liverpool centre has delivered more than 23,000 occasions of service. That means thousands of people across our region—people who might otherwise have gone without care—have been able to walk through the doors and receive the support they need.

These centres represent a shift in how we think about mental health care. They remove the barriers that too often stop people from seeking help—the need for a referral, a diagnosis or even an appointment. You can simply walk in and be seen by a multidisciplinary team of mental health clinicians, nurses, counsellors and peer workers. These are people who understand the complex medical system but, more importantly, understand people.

When you step inside the Liverpool centre, there's a sense of calm and care that's not common in health care. It doesn't feel clinical or intimidating; it feels human. There's a sense that help is here and that someone is ready to listen. I met staff who spoke about supporting people at some of their lowest moments—people in distress, people who have been waiting too long for support, people who just needed someone to take them seriously. For many, centres like this are the difference between isolation and recovery, between being seen and being overlooked.

This is what the Albanese Labor government means when it says it's putting mental health at the heart of Medicare. It's about building a system that treats mental health just as importantly as physical health, not just as an afterthought, a luxury or a separate lane of care. In Liverpool alone the Albanese government has invested $18.4 million to fund the centre's operations, and it's already transforming lives. In October this government also opened the new Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre, providing even more south-western Sydney residents with access to free walk-in mental health support and care. When we invest in services that meet people where they are, we strengthen the fabric of our community. Mental health isn't an abstract policy. It's deeply personal. It's in every family, every workplace and every street in our suburbs. I've heard firsthand across Hughes from parents worrying about their children; young people struggling with study or work pressures; adults trying to balance family, finances and wellbeing; and seniors feeling isolated. Mental health and resilience is part of all our stories, and that's why this new network of Medicare mental health centres is this government walking the walk not just talking the talk on mental health.

I also had the opportunity to visit headspace Liverpool and headspace Miranda on national mental health day. Both of these services do remarkable work supporting young people across south-west Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. At headspace Liverpool I met a team that's passionate about creating a space where young people feel safe to open up. The service is welcoming, warm and led by people who know that early intervention can make all the difference. It's amazing to see how well networked this program is with local high schools and how these programs are growing from strength to strength. That's why the Albanese government is expanding headspace centres to 203 locations nationwide. Speaking to the staff at headspace Liverpool, you can see how seriously they take that mission—their outreach into schools, TAFEs and community organisations means help isn't hidden behind a waiting list or a long drive. It's part of daily life.

For many young people the hardest step is the first one, which is seeking the help they need. Once they do, the transformation can be incredible. As part of the Albanese Labor government's $1.1 billion mental health election commitment, over $200 million will be invested in 58 new upgraded and expanded headspace services. Headspace Miranda will receive $2.5 million through the headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program to hire additional clinicians and relocate the service to expand capacity and improve care.

I visited headspace Miranda to meet with staff and members of their youth reference group and discuss all the great work they're doing. This centre supports young people across the shire, an area that, despite its beauty and strong sense of community, isn't immune to the pressures young people face. At Miranda the team shared stories about how they've supported young people dealing with everything from exam stress to family breakdowns, loneliness and depression. They spoke about how they're seeing an increase in family violence and child protection concerns but also that more young people are reaching out for help earlier, which is highly encouraging.

In the shire I often hear from families who are trying to support their kids through tough times. Sometimes they're not sure what to say or how to help. Services like headspace Miranda give those families a starting point. They give young people a safe space where they can find understanding and care without stigma or judgement. It's not just for crisis care. Headspace helps young people develop the tools and confidence to manage their wellbeing. That building of resilience is critical, and it will last them a lifetime.

When we talk about mental health, we often talk about numbers—how many centres, how many appointments, how much funding. Those numbers matter, but what matters more are the people behind them—the young people who walked into headspace Liverpool and found hope; the peer worker at Miranda who turned their recovery into a career of helping others; and the clinicians at the Liverpool Medicare Mental Health Centre, who open the doors each day to anyone in need with no referral required. These are the people building a better mental health system in real time, and, as a government, we're supporting that with the largest investment in mental health in Australia's history, with $1.1 billion to expand access to community based care backed by Medicare. That means more services, more staff and more options for people at every stage of life. It also means acknowledging that one size doesn't fit all. For new parents, we're opening 20 perinatal mental health centres in partnership with the Gidget Foundation. For children, 17 new Medicare mental health kids hubs are being rolled out across the country. For young people, the headspace network continues to grow and evolve.

All of this work shares a single vision that mental health care should be accessible, compassionate and local. I want to thank each clinician, counsellor, peer worker, receptionist and volunteer that works so hard across these services. Your work is vital. You're saving lives every day, often quietly, without recognition, but always with impact. I also want to thank the families, carers and loved ones who support those experiencing mental ill health. The strength, patience and love you show are the backbone of our community's mental health response.

Mental Health Month's theme this year is 'Taking steps on your wellbeing journey'. From my conversations in Liverpool and Miranda, one message stands: out the first step is often the hardest, but it's also the most powerful. This always bears repeating because of the devastating impacts mental health can have in our community. If you're struggling, reach out. If you're not sure where to start, walk into one of our Medicare mental health centres or your local headspace. You don't need a referral, you don't need to wait and you don't have to do it alone.

Together, we're building a system that meets people with compassion and one that makes it easier to ask for help and easier to get it, because mental health is health, and when we take care of it, our whole community is better off.

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