Citizens Commission on Human Rights

Australian National Office

Proposal that Headspace stop receiving $163 m without proving their worth

Jill Margo, Financial Review, 26 November 2020

An Australian federal Inquiry into Mental Health’s Final Report correctly proposes that headspace youth mental health centres no longer automatically receive $163 million in funding and they prove their worth. This follows on from a 2015 University of NSW independent evaluation of headspace which found only 13% of the 12-25 year olds attending headspace significantly improved, 29% had no change and an unacceptable 24% either declined or worsened. Consultation costs ranged from $136 to a staggering $1,000 per visit.  As one federal Member of Parliament said, “It shouldn’t have massively privileged status funding over other services. They all need to be backed by evidence.”

Read the full article here: https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/mcgorry-s-headspace-may-lose-privileged-position-20201125-p56hu6