A new service opening this week in Nhill will bring community-based mental health and wellbeing support to the local community.
The Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre was officially opened on Wednesday August 6 at 9 Clarence Street, Nhill. It will provide support for family members, carers, kin and other people who support someone experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.
The innovative, lived-experience led service is funded by the Victorian Government and is being delivered by Grampians Community Health (GCH) in partnership with Mind Australia.
CEO Greg Little said the centre was part of GCH’s mission to provide accessible, quality services in local communities.
“This centre is about making sure people in Nhill and the surrounding communities can get the support they need, close to home,” Mr Little said. “We know how hard it can be to access community-based mental health and carer services when you’re living in a remote area. This is about bringing care to where it’s needed most, and doing it in a way that’s welcoming, visible, and part of the community.”
Mr Little said the need for the centre became apparent when he met with Hindmarsh Council in Nhill early last year. “While GCH was already delivering services there, people still had to travel to Horsham or Ballarat for many specialists support,” he said. “If you’re on a low income and need help quickly, public transport isn’t much of an option. The further west you go in the Wimmera, the more that geographic disadvantage kicks in, especially when it comes to critical social and welfare services.”
The Mental Health and Carer Wellbeing Centre in Nhill will also serve as a hub for surrounding towns across the Wimmera.
“We wanted a visible, central location and thanks to support from the Council and Nhill Neighbourhood House, we’ve leased The Patch, just off the main street,” Mr Little said. The site has been transformed into a safe, accessible, and fit-for-purpose space. “It’s now our Nhill home, a place where carers can get the support they need, and where GCH can base other vital services,” he added.
Mr Little said the opening of the centre was timely. “The Wimmera is a predominantly agricultural region, and right now, people are doing it tough. Farmers, supply chain workers, and township communities are feeling the pressure. If ever there was a time for local support services to be in place, it’s now.”
The centre will allow local people to connect with peers, access tailored information, resources, advocacy, individual and group-based support, and brokerage funds through Tandem’s Carer Support Fund.
All staff have a lived experience of supporting someone. “We are here to listen to families, carers, kin and supporters, and we offer a variety of supports based on specific needs,” Mr Little said.
Mind Australia Executive Director Victoria Operations Belinda McCullough said the centre would provide everything from a cuppa and a chat to professional and caring support.
“Mind Australia is delighted that the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect service will now be available to people in the Wimmera region, thanks to our partners, Grampians Community Health,” Ms McCullough said.
“People who care for someone with mental health or substance use challenges often have their own challenges, including social isolation, burnout and financial pressures, which are exacerbated in remote regions like the Wimmera.”
“Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect is a special place where a carer can walk in and be among people who have walked in their shoes and understand their situation.”
Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect is one of eight new Connect Centres funded by the Victorian Government in response to Recommendation 31 of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
To find out more about Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect call 1800 962 008 or email grampiansmhwconnect@mindaustralia.org.au
