Residents in Melbourne’s inner north now have greater access to free, community-based mental health care, with a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local now supporting the Darebin community.
Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt today announced the Darebin Mental Health and Wellbeing Local is operating from two sites in Northcote—413 High Street and Your Community Health at 42 Separation Street.
Delivered by Neami National in partnership with Northern Health, the service began offering mental health and wellbeing support via phone and telehealth in November and is progressively expanding to in-person services over the coming months.
Once fully scaled up, the Darebin Local will provide a wide range of clinical and wellbeing mental health supports through in-person appointments, telehealth and outreach services. All services are free, with no Medicare card or GP referral required.
Designed to act as a ‘front door’ to the mental health system, the network of Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals supports Victorians experiencing mental illness or psychological distress, including people with co-occurring substance use or addiction.
Established as a flagship reform following the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the Locals have already helped more than 30,000 Victorians access free, community-based care.
There are now 22 Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals operating across 24 locations statewide, making support easier to access closer to home.
Additional Locals in the local government areas of Cardinia, Maribyrnong, Port Phillip, Wyndham, Maroondah and Mount Alexander have also recently commenced services via phone or telehealth, with in-person support to follow in the coming months.
The Victorian Budget 2025/26 includes a $34.4 million investment to support existing Locals, establish seven new locations and continue essential community-based mental health services across Victoria.
Since 2021, $6 billion has been invested in Victoria’s mental health system, with the workforce growing by 25 per cent.
Stitt said, “The new Darebin Mental Health and Wellbeing Local will give more people in Melbourne’s inner north that crucial front-door access to the mental health system, closer to home.
“Our network of Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals is making it simpler for Victorians to access free support whenever they need it—with no referrals or Medicare card required.”
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