Headspace Australia: Foundation And History Explained

when was headspace australia founded

Headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, was founded in 2006 by the Australian Government. The organisation provides early intervention mental health services to young people aged 12-25 years old. Headspace has over 156 centres across Australia, providing support to young people and their families. The services are free or low-cost and include doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, youth workers, peer workers, counsellors and alcohol and drug workers.

Characteristics Values
Year founded 2006
Founder Australian Government
Funding Over $54 million from the Australian Government
Number of centres in 2007 10
Number of centres in 2010 30

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Headspace Australia was founded in 2006

Headspace delivers support to young people to reduce the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and drug use, and to improve relationship issues associated with sexuality, sexual health, families, and bullying. Young people and their families can access support at one of the many Headspace centres across Australia, as well as online and via telephone support services.

Headspace centres are staffed by doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, youth workers, peer workers, counsellors, and alcohol and drug workers. The organisation also provides psychotherapy, counselling, education and employment services.

Headspace's impact in Australia has led to international interest, and the organisation has been approached from across the world to share its experience in establishing services that meet the needs of young people. Headspace has also been implemented overseas, in countries including Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and Iceland.

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It is a non-profit organisation for youth mental health

Headspace is a non-profit organisation for youth mental health. It was established by the Australian Government in 2006 in response to the recognition that the existing health system needed to be more accessible and effective for young people with mental and substance use disorders. Headspace provides early intervention mental health services to 12–25-year-olds, helping thousands of young people access vital support through their centres in communities across Australia, as well as online and phone counselling services, vocational services, and support in schools.

Headspace has over 156 centres across Australia, which can be accessed for free or at low cost. Staff include doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, youth workers, peer workers, counsellors, and alcohol and drug workers. Headspace can help with psychotherapy, counselling, education and employment services, as well as drug and alcohol issues.

Headspace is directed by the Headspace Board, chaired by Ben Shields. The Chief Executive Officer of Headspace is Jason Trethowan, who also sits on the Board as a Director. Professor Patrick McGorry AO was announced as the inaugural Patron of Headspace in 2023. He oversaw the establishment of the first ten centres in 2007, with 20 more locations announced by the Federal Government by the end of that year. By 2010, 30 Headspace centres were operating across the nation.

Headspace is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care under the Youth Mental Health Initiative Program and is indirectly supported through the Better Access Scheme. Headspace delivers support to young people to reduce the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and drug use, and to improve relationship issues associated with sexuality, sexual health, families, and bullying. Young people and their families can get support at a Headspace centre, as well as through their online and telephone support service, eheadspace.

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It provides support to 12-25-year-olds

Headspace, formally the Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, is an Australian non-profit organisation for youth mental health. It was established by the Australian Government in 2006. Headspace provides support to 12-25-year-olds, helping young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

Headspace has over 156 centres across Australia, which can be accessed for free or at low cost. Staff include doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, youth workers, peer workers, counsellors, and alcohol and drug workers. Headspace can help with psychotherapy, counselling, education and employment services, as well as drug and alcohol issues.

Headspace also offers online and telephone support through eheadspace, a confidential and free service where young people can call, chat or email a qualified youth mental health professional. eheadspace is available 9am-1am (Melbourne time), 7 days a week.

In addition to their centre and online support, Headspace also has a presence in schools. Headspace Schools and Communities ("Headspace Schools") is an initiative funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care that provides support to secondary schools affected by the suicide of a student.

Headspace's work is guided by their strategy for 2021-2024, which aims to support young people to be mentally healthy in their communities and actively contribute to mental health system reforms. The organisation is directed by the Headspace Board, chaired by Ben Shields, and led by Chief Executive Officer Jason Trethowan.

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It has over 150 centres across Australia

Headspace, formally the Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, is an Australian non-profit organisation for youth mental health. It was established by the Australian Government in 2006 with over $54 million in funding. Headspace aims to improve access, service cohesion and quality, and ultimately health and social outcomes, for young people aged 12-25 years experiencing mental illness and related substance use problems.

Headspace has since expanded to over 150 centres across Australia, providing free or low-cost support to young people and their families. These centres are staffed by doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, youth workers, peer workers, counsellors, and alcohol and drug workers.

The organisation's impact in Australia has led to international interest, with Headspace approached from across the world to share its experience in establishing services that meet the needs of young people. The Headspace model has been implemented overseas in countries including Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and Iceland.

In addition to its physical centres, Headspace also offers online and telephone support services, known as eheadspace. This service provides a confidential and free space for young people to call, chat or email with a qualified youth mental health professional. It is not an emergency or crisis service, but rather a space for ongoing support and management of mental health.

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It is funded by the Australian Government

Headspace, formally the Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, is an Australian non-profit organisation for youth mental health established by the Australian Government in 2006. The project is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care under the Youth Mental Health Initiative Program, with over $54 million in funding from the Australian Government. It is also indirectly supported through the Better Access Scheme.

Headspace was created in response to the recognition that the existing health system needed to be more accessible and effective for young people with mental and substance use disorders. Headspace delivers support to young people aged 12 to 25 years to reduce the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and drug use, and to improve relationship issues associated with sexuality, sexual health, families, and bullying.

Headspace centres are located in communities across Australia, providing online and telephone support services, vocational services, and support in schools. In addition to mental health support, Headspace also offers physical health services, including sexual health, alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

Headspace's impact in Australia has led to international interest, and they are regularly approached to share their experience in establishing services that meet the needs of young people. Headspace has also played a role in shaping models of mental health support internationally, with the Headspace model implemented in countries including Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and Iceland.

Frequently asked questions

Headspace Australia was founded in 2006.

Headspace is Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.

Headspace is funded by the Australian Government, with over $54 million in funding. It is also funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care under the Youth Mental Health Initiative Program.

Headspace has over 150 centres across Australia, with free or low-cost access.

Headspace supports young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, as well as work and study support.

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