There is an urgent need for Headspace to continue in Kilcoy

Headspace have been outreaching to Kilcoy for just over two years.  The outreach has been funded by the federal government through the Brisbane North PHN which covers the Kilcoy area.  Funding was for 12 months initially and last year it was extended for a further twelve months, due to strong support from the school community, service providers and others. 

This year the funding has been extended until the end of the calendar year.  This funding has been pieced together from residual funding from other programs and there is no other funding available.  The organization has been told to make the outreach self-sustaining, which means getting a registered psychologist or social worker to attend and bulk bill young people through medicare for mental health care plans.  The organisiation has been trying constantly for over 12 months to do this, but no allied health professionals want to travel to Kilcoy for this amount of funding.  Even if they did, they would still have to supplement this with top up funds.

The hospital has been supplying the space free of charge and would continue to do this for another year or so, but more has to be done to maintain this service.

The high school guidance officer, support teacher and chappy are all supportive of headspace’s presence and do not want to see it withdrawn as young people will not be able to access the Caboolture based service. Even if they do ie have parents willing and able to take them, this means missing a full day of school for each appointment which severely impacts on their capacity to achieve.

Kilcoy have no other outreach services which supports young people with mild/moderate mental health.  Withdrawing the service may allow this to escalate to crisis point. 

The mental health outreach clinician provides support in Kilcoy approximately 6 days a month.

The following numbers identifies how many young people have accessed support in Kilcoy;

June – 17

July – 21

August – 25

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The above clients identified that they reside in the following suburbs;

• Woolmar
• Kilcoy
• Royston
• Toogoolawah
• Mt Kilcoy
• Neurum