THE HON PETER DUTTON MP

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON

SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

MS SIMMONE COTTOM

LIBERAL PARTY CANDIDATE FOR HAWKE

MR JOHN FLETCHER

LIBERAL PARTY CANDIDATE FOR GORTON

A DUTTON COALITION GOVERNMENT WILL BOOST HEADSPACE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN MELTON

An elected Dutton Coalition Government will invest $6.2 million to upgrade headspace Melton and ensure young Australians living in Melbourne's western suburbs have affordable and accessible mental health services.

Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of the Coalition's highest priorities. This announcement forms part of the Coalition's commitment to invest an additional $400 million to deliver a world-leading focus on youth mental health.

Today's announcement will boost capacity at headspace Melton, including through additional support workers and youth mentors, to ensure more young people can access free support and bring down wait times. This funding will support an additional 12,000 occasions of service per year at headspace Melton, allowing up to 2,500 more young people in the local community to access the support they need.

The funding will also support headspace Melton to proactively perform community outreach activities, which will greatly benefit families living in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.

It will provide certainty to parents that the mental health support their children need will always be delivered by a Dutton Coalition Government.

Australia's youth mental health crisis will be at risk of worsening under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government. This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to support the restoration of Medicare mental health sessions or the Coalition's $400 million youth mental health package, which provides direct assistance to young Australians and their parents.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, said in a visit to headspace Melton today "As a former Health Minister who expanded headspace's activities, I know the critical role that headspace plays for young Australians and their families who may be facing mental health challenges.

"This important investment builds on the Coalition's proud record of strengthening the headspace network and will be an important investment in Melbourne's west to ensure access to mental health support for young Australians," Mr Dutton said.

Shadow Minister for Health, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, said that the Coalition was enhancing young Australians' access to headspace in line with our long-standing support of this important mental health service.

"It is only a Dutton Coalition Government who will address the youth mental health crisis.

"Last year, a quarter of young Australians delayed or avoided seeking professional support for their mental health needs because they just could not afford it.

"Labor has failed Australians when it comes to mental health, but we are committed to turning that around."

Liberal Party candidate for Hawke, Simmone Cottom, said this commitment to local mental health services showed that a Liberal Government will be focused on local community needs.

"It is said that for every person lost to mental health, up to 135 people are impacted. Since COVID, more young people are impacted by mental health disorders and there are not enough services out in the west."

Liberal Party candidate for Gorton, John Fletcher, said "I have been listening to my community, and if one thing is clear, it's that funding for mental health services has not kept up with the increasing demand. The failure of this government to provide adequate support for vulnerable people is yet further proof of the Albanese Government's neglect of Melbourne's West."

The Coalition will also restore funding to double Medicare mental health sessions, from 10 to 20, after Labor ripped away affordable support from at least 372,000 vulnerable Australians.

Only a Dutton Coalition Government will make mental health a national priority and ensure all Australians, especially young Australians, have access to the affordable mental health support they need and deserve.

2 April 2025