Mental health hubs

Head to Health for mental health support

Head to Health services can be accessed by calling 1800 595 212 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday except on public holidays.

The first step is a discussion with a mental health clinician about your situation to determine the level of help you need. Depending on your needs, this could vary from information or advice, to counselling, or support from a specialist service.

For people with moderate to severe mental health needs, the best place for help could be Murray PHN’s Head to Health mental health hubs. These services (listed below) provide free mental health support to people living in these towns and by outreach to surrounding communities.

Local Head to Health services

  • Bendigo: 13-19 Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat
  • Mildura: 137 Thirteenth Street, Mildura
  • Seymour: Seymour Medical Clinic, 30-32 Anzac Avenue (Bookings only.)
  • Shepparton: Alaya House, 3A Nixon Street, Shepparton
  • Wodonga: 155 High Street, Wodonga

For more information, help and resources, visit the headtohealth.gov.au website.

Background
HeadtoHelp was established as a mental health support service during Victoria’s lockdown in September 2020. Funded by the Australian Government, it was designed to provide the best mental service for people needing support in Victoria.
The $26.9 million investment was used to establish a central phone intake service and set up an initial 15 HeadtoHelp hubs to enhance the mental health support available to Victorians.
Using the same model of care and intake telephone number, a newly established NSW service opened under the Head to Health brand on 6 September 2021.
With funding extended to the Victorian hubs, all hubs transitioned to the new Head to Health brand in December 2021.

Delivered locally
The Head to Health central intake and hubs are operated by PHNs (Primary Health Networks) in cooperation with existing health services. The model of care was developed by Victoria’s PHNs in collaboration with the Australian Government. PHNs are primarily funded by the Australian Government to improve health care and the support people receive from health services.

The Head to Health model draws on insights from consultations conducted by PHNs with people with lived experience of mental illness, consumers, clinicians and other experts. Head to Health is person-centred, recovery oriented and evidence-based, reflecting PHNs’ commitment to these principles. Head to Health comprises of a central phone intake plus more than 20 mental health services across Victoria.

Head to Health is a unique service and the first state-wide step towards integrating the mental health system and coordinating care for people, when and where they need it most.

No-cost policy
Advice and services provided by Head to Health hubs are offered free to all Victorians. Head to Health may, however, provide advice and refer people to support and/or services that require payment of a professional fee. These services are not included in the no-cost service provided by Head to Health.

Translated resources
These flyers explain that in times like these, it is normal to feel a little insecure. Maybe a little stressed, anxious or sad. When these problems persist, it is important that people act sooner and Head to Health to feel better.

Page last updated: 22 June 2023