ADJOURNMENT
Senator CAROL BROWN (Tasmania) (16:23): Tonight I rise to recognise the important new service for the people of Glenorchy and surrounding communities, the Glenorchy Medicare Mental Health Centre. Earlier this month, I was proud to join the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride; the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and member for Lyons, Rebecca White; and centre staff and members of the local community to officially open this new service in the heart of Glenorchy.
The centre is located in the former Snows Dry Cleaning building, a familiar local landmark designed by the renowned Tasmanian architect Esmond Dorney in the late 1950s. Esmond's son, architect Paddy Dorney, was present and spoke at the opening, reflecting on the building's enduring place in the hearts of local people and its renewal for a new chapter of community service.
It is fitting that a building with such a strong place in Glenorchy's history has been thoughtfully renewed to serve the community for many years to come. Its architectural character has been preserved by creating a warm, safe and welcoming environment. The Glenorchy Medicare Mental Health Centre provides free and confidential mental health care with no appointment or referral required.
It's open Monday to Friday. People can simply walk through the door and speak with qualified mental health professionals and peer workers with lived experience. They can receive immediate assistance, short- and medium-term support and help connecting with other health, housing, employment and social services.
The centre also offers information and advice to carers, families and friends. That simple walk-in model matters. Reaching out for help can be difficult, and the mental health system can be hard to navigate, particularly when someone is already in distress.
Cost, waiting times, referrals and uncertainty about where to go can all be barriers. This centre removes many of those barriers. It gives people a clear local front door and the reassurance that support is available close to home when they need it.
We know that one in five adults experience mental health challenges each year. Behind that statistic are individuals, family, friends and colleagues. Nobody should feel they have to struggle alone, and no-one should miss out on care because they cannot afford it or do not have a referral.
The Glenorchy centre is fully funded by the Australian government, commissioned by Primary Health Tasmania and operated by Stride mental health. Its multidisciplinary team includes mental health clinicians, counsellors, social workers and peer workers. The contribution of peer workers is especially important.
Lived experience brings understanding, trust and human connection to care. As one of the peer workers said at the opening, recovery does not always happen in a straight line. Sometimes the most important thing we can offer is to listen without judgement, treat people with respect and remind them that there can always be a way forward.
The Glenorchy Centre is the 57th Medicare mental health centre to open nationally. In Tasmania, it joins existing services in Launceston, Devonport and Burnie which have already delivered more than 22,000 free walk-in appointments across Tasmania. Nationally, the network has provided more than half a million free walk-in appointments.
These numbers demonstrate both the demand for accessible mental health care and the difference these centres are already making. The Albanese Labor government is investing $1.1 billion in mental health and wellbeing to strengthen services, grow the workforce and deliver care wherever Australians live. The national network of Medicare mental health centres will expand to 92 by mid-2030, including a new full centre at Brighton.
This is a practical investment in universal community care. I thank everyone who has helped bring this centre to life. I acknowledge Primary Health Tasmania, Stride mental health, the centre's clinical and non-clinical staff, peer workers, community organisations, Glenorchy City Council and the local health and support services and their work in helping to build a coordinated local network so that people can find the right support at the right time.
This centre represents the best of Medicare: free, high-quality care available to everyone. I'm proud of our government and particularly Assistant Minister Emma McBride for making mental healthcare easier to access closer to home and free at the point of care. The Glenorchy Medicare Mental Health Centre will make a real difference, and I look forward to seeing it become a trusted and valued part of the community.