headspace
Bairnsdale

Meet the headspace Bairnsdale Team.

Our team has a range of professionals who are all experienced in working with young people. On staff we have a community engagement officer, social workers, psychologists and administration workers.

• Centre Manager: Hayley

• Client Services Coordinator: Julie

• Client Services Officer: Melanie

• Clinical Lead: Jake 

• Youth Access Worker: Stephanie

• Youth Access Worker: Jayme

• Youth Access Worker & EMHSS: Melissa 

• Youth Officer: Kelsey 

• Community Engagement Officer: Elise

To contact a staff member, please email us and let us know who you’d like to get in contact with.

We also have a number of staff members from Consortium partner agencies, who work from our Centre. These Consortium partners work closely with us to ensure that we provide the best possible services to young people.

These workers include:

• general practitioners
• a child and adolescent psychiatrist
• counsellors
• drug and alcohol workers
• employment consultants
• mental health group workers
• case managers
• dietitian
• exercise physiologist
• personal trainer

Mental Health Services

Mental health workers – which may include psychologists, social workers, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, counsellors and other case workers – that can help if you're just not feeling yourself.

Alcohol and Drug Support Services

Workers either on site or linked to the centre who can assist you with any alcohol or other drug issue. 

Work and Study Services

Workers either on site or linked to the centre who can assist you with work or study opportunities. 

Youth Advisory Group

A group of young people who help with events and some decision making at a centre. Ask us about getting involved.

Groups

Centres have a range of programs and activities for young people. Just ask us what have on. 

Youth Housing Support

Workers either on site or linked to the centre who can assist you with any housing issues. 

Centrelink Appointments

Centrelink visits our centre once a week. Speak to us about making an appointment.

More Information

Welcome Pack Booklet: for young people and for family & friends  

If you are in danger and need urgent help, call “000”, or for 24/7 support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

You don’t need a formal referral to come to headspace. If you want to refer yourself, call (03) 5141 6200 or drop in and see us at 171 Main Street, Bairnsdale.  

REFERRAL FORM

Families, carers or friends can refer a young person to headspace Bairnsdale. The young person needs to be aware of the referral, agree to it and be willing to meet with a headspace Bairnsdale Youth Officer. To make a referral on behalf of a young person, please call (03) 5141 6200 and we will contact the young person to make an appointment.

Schools or health and community workers can refer a young person to headspace Bairnsdale. Referrals must be made in writing on the headspace Bairnsdale Referral Form and sent to PO Box 677 Bairnsdale or emailed to us here. Referrals should include as much information as possible and be undertaken with the consent of the young person. 

General Practitioner's (GPs) referrals should include a mental health care plan for the young person that is submitted with the GP referral form. The referral form and mental health care plan can be sent to PO Box 677 Bairnsdale or via email.

Referrals must be undertaken with the consent of the young person and should include as much information as possible, including consent to speak to family and friends and/or community supports, along with contact details of support people. 

The confidentiality of young people is one of our top priorities.

This means we may not be able to give you any information about a young person you are trying to help access our service.

If you are supporting a young person who you believe has been referred to or is engaged with our service, we need to know that they consent for us to talk to you.

You can do this by dropping into our centre with the young person or helping the young person to give us a call. 

GAMES GROUP

Our Games Group for young people who have Autism* is held at headspace Bairnsdale every fortnight on Monday from 4.00pm - 5.00pm. We play games and chat. This group is a great way to make social connections in a safe and fun environment. 

To find out more, or to register your interest, call 5141 6200 or email us on info@headspacebairnsdale.org.au

*please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility 

UNIQUE BUT UNITED (U.B.U)

Our LGBTIQA+ Social Group, U.B.U. is held at The Hub on a fortnightly basis on Thursdays from 4:00- 5:30 pm. 

To find out more, or to register your interest, call 5141 6200 or email us on info@headspacebairnsdale.org.au 

SOCIALSPACE

socialspace is a  safe, inclusive and supportive space to meet new people and make new friends! This social group is for all young
people aged 12 - 25 years. We meet every second Thursday (starting 4th August 2022) from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at headspace Bairnsdale. 

To find out more, or to register your interest, call 5141 6200 or email us on info@headspacebairnsdale.org.au

TUNING INTO TEENS

Tuning in to Teens is a free 6 week program for parents and carers of young people.

We are currently taking expressions of interest for the next Tuning in to Teens group. 

To find out more, or to register your interest, call 5141 6200 or email us on info@headspacebairnsdale.org.au

We are always looking for new members to be part of the Youth Advisory Group (YAG). 

If you are aged between 12 and 25, live, study or work in East Gippsland and have something to say about youth mental health then you should apply for the YAG!

Check out the full role description here and apply online here 

The YAG is a group of young people who meet regularly to talk about youth mental health and wellbeing and come up with new and innovative ways to raise the profile of the services headspace Bairnsdale offers. 

For more information, contact Elise on (03) 5141 6200 or email us.

headspace Bairnsdale can be booked in to attend your event, school or service by filling in a request form online or download.

What should I expect at my first appointment?

When you first come to headspace Bairnsdale you will be greeted by our friendly staff. There will be some forms for you to fill out. You will then be asked to use an iPad to give us some details about your well-being. After this, you'll sit down with one of our Youth Officers who will work with you to develop a plan that suits your needs.

How much does it cost? 

All of our services at headspace Bairnsdale are FREE. To see our GP you will need a Medicare card. If you have a Medicare card or the number, bring it along with you. 

Find out more about applying for a Medicare card.

How does headspace protect the safety of young people?

We are commitment to child and youth safety. Parents and carers can access information about how our commitment to child and youth safety is implemented via the Children and Young People Safety Code of Conduct and the Children and Young People Safety Commitment 

What if I can't get a Medicare card? 

If you want to see our GP and don't have a Medicare card, please talk to us and we will help you get one.

If there is something stopping you getting one quickly (or you are not able to get one) that’s ok, we will assist you to access medical services.

But please remember all other services at headspace Bairnsdale DO NOT require a Medicare card and are FREE.

How do I get to headspace Bairnsdale?

We are located at 171 Main Street Bairnsdale, just near the corner of Service Street and Princes Highway. The Bailey Street bus station is 150 meters away on the corner of Bailey Street and Princes Highway. There is 1 hour parking available in front of headspace Bairnsdale on Princes Highway, and 2 hour parking around the corner on Service Street. 

Click here for directions

Is there disability access at headspace Bairnsdale?

We have an automatic opening (push button) door, semi wheelchair accessible interior and an accessible bathroom (see picture below).

All of the headspace Bairnsdale Team are trained in communication strategies to support young people with disabilities and/or low literacy to access our services. The team are trained in the use of the National Relay Service and we have been awarded a Certificate of Communication Access from scope Victoria. We proudly display the Communication Access Symbol to show young people and their families that everyone is welcome to access services here.

 
If you require any assistance at all, please call us on (03) 5141 6200.

   
(semi wheelchair accessible interior)

  
(automatic push button door)   

(accessible bathroom)

Stay up to date with what's happening at headspace Bairnsdale by subscribing to our e-News!

Subscribe to our e-News here

You will receive the e-News via email, one per school term - so only four per year (opt out anytime). 

We welcome and value your feedback so that we can continually improve our service for young people. Please let us know what you thought about your experience at headspace Bairnsdale.

To give us feedback on our services at headspace Bairnsdale email speakup@headspacebairnsdale.org.au

Otherwise, please fill out a feedback form and give it to the staff member at the front desk or email it to speakup@headspacebairnsdale.org.au 

Suggestions: If you would like to provide general feedback about our services, and/or have ideas about how we could make improvements to our services or the centre, you can make a suggestion by telling our administration staff or by the 'Suggestion Box' in the waiting area. 

Complaints: You have the right to make a formal complaint if you are not satisfied with the service you have received from headspace Bairnsdale. Please see our Client Complaints Policy Summary and the How to Make a Complaint form. 

Relationships Australia Victoria (lead agency) 

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation, with no religious affiliations. Our services are for all members of the community, regardless of their religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances. We respect the rights of all people in all their diversity to live life fully within their families and communities with dignity and safety, and to enjoy healthy relationships.

Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH)

LRH provide emergency care, elective surgery, maternity, aged care, rehabilitation, pharmacy and mental health services both at the hospital and sites across the Gippsland region.

MIND Australia  

MIND partner with health, community, and government organisations to provide individualised, evidence based and recovery support, and a safe environment for people experiencing mental health and well being concerns to live in the community. 

Australian Community Support Organisation 

ACSO supports people who are experiencing issues arising from their use of alcohol or drugs which could place themselves or others at risk of harm; and who have not found sufficient help from other health care providers. They will conduct an intake to find out more about their needs and to help them access the most appropriate services

Gippsland Lakes Complete Health

Gippsland Lakes Complete Health deliver an extensive range of accessible health services and health promotion activities to the people of East Gippsland. Their focus is on improving the health of individuals and the health of the community we live in.

Advanced Personnel Management (APM)

APM deliver job seeker, disability, workplace health, NDIS support and home assessment services to thousands of Australians every year.  APM are Australia's largest provider of disability employment services with a proven track record of helping people with an injury, illness or disability to successfully find work.

Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault (GCASA)

GCASA is a free and confidential service, available to anyone in Gippsland who has ever experienced, or been impacted by, sexual assault. GCASA offers individual counselling, after-hours crisis support and information, referral and advocacy services.

Quantum Support Services

Quantum provides a range of services to support Gippslanders, including housing, homelessness and community strengthening; family violence support services; tailored youth programs for young people and their families who are experiencing difficulty in the home; and the East Bairnsdale Community Hub providing a number of programs including programs that cater to children and young people and support for families through the food pantry service, advocacy and administration support.

Youth Insearch

Youth Insearch is young people helping young people, empowering young people aged 14-20 to turn their disadvantages into their advantages enabling them to reach their full potential. Youth Insearch provide weekend workshops, support and leadership training.

Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS)

YSAS provide a range of health and welfare services enabling young people and families to overcome problems associated with substance abuse, mental health and behaviours such as offending and self-harm. YSAS provides practical support and evidence-based clinical services to young people experiencing serious problems, but also intervene as early as possible with those at risk to prevent problems escalating and becoming entrenched. 

Wellington Shire Council 

Wellington Shire Council is the third largest municipality in Victoria and their community vision is 'Happy people, healthy environment and thriving communities in the heart of Gippsland'.