What kind of service is headspace? What do you do?

headspace is an early intervention mental health foundation for young people age 12-25 with mild to moderate mental health problems. headspace provides young people’s wellbeing over 4 core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services. Check out the 'Our Services' tab or call the center to speak to someone to find out more specific information.

How much does getting help at headspace cost?

headspace is a FEE FREE mental health service (rebated through Medicare), however to provide you with this service we do need a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP. You do not need these to call our intake team and book an assessment however you will need it to see a clinician. For more information on getting help or a MHCP please read the 'Mental Health Treatment Plan' tab and the 'Getting started with headspace Maitland tab'. 

What classifies as a crisis and what do I do if I am having one?

A crisis is when you are feeling extreme emotions such as overwhelm, anger, depression, sadness, anxiety or having difficulty coping (with anything) or staying safe. 

If you are experiencing a crisis, think you are experiencing a crisis or are worried about someone else please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511, the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 13YARN on 13 92 76 or contact your GP or attend your local hospital, or if you are experiencing an emergency and need emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) please contact 000. 

What is the process of getting help at headspace? And how quick is it to get in and see someone?

The process of getting help at headspace is you need to contact us, you can do that by calling, emailing, dropping into the center, seeing your GP, or seeing someone else like a teacher, coach, parents etc. 

After the initial contact where you will be asked some details to make sure you are right for our service or if you need another service (which we will refer you too), you will be booked in for an assessment. This assessment is really just to find out what's going on in your life and seeing where and how we can help. We will then need you to provide a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP before we can place you on a waitlist to see a clinician. 

The waitlist time varies, however you will be called throughout your time on the waitlist by our intake team to make sure you are still safe. 

The process usually takes a few weeks - it is quicker if you have a referral and a MHCP at the time of your assessment.

What do you need to report as mandatory reporters?

headspace clinicians are mandatory reporters so disclosing information may trigger a clinician to have to report that information to their manager, your parents or caregiver, the police or another service. This is done to ensure the safety of your self and other people. If you are concerned about this please speak to your clinician as to what is and what is not something they have to report before disclosing. If you choose to disclose something like this, your clinician will discuss with you next steps and how we can support you. 

Is headspace a safe space?

headspace Maitland and headspace Cessnock are safe spaces for all young people and the family and friends of young people. We are accepting of different cultures, languages, religions, sexualities, backgrounds and diversities. We wish to provide a place where young people are accepted, comfortable and welcomed to be themselves.

I don’t think the clinician I’m seeing is a good fit, what do I do?

If you feel like your clinician isn't a good fit for whatever reason you can ask to see someone else either to the clinician or at the reception desk. You will be put back on the waitlist to see another clinician if they don't have any current openings. This is your mental health, your story and your treatment and you need to feel comfortable opening up to your clinician. 

Can I bring someone with me?

YES! If you would feel more comfortable have a family member or friend with you to see someone at headspace please bring them along to the appointment. 

I feel like I’m not ‘bad enough’ so see someone at headspace, what can I do?

There is no such thing as 'bad enough', if you want to talk to someone even if your not in a bad place mentally you can still come to headspace. You don't need to have a mental illness to talk to headspace. 

What if I am not ready to come into the center just yet?

If your not ready to come into the center to see a clinician you can chat to one of our eheadspace clinicians, join our online community, you can check us out at an event, or you can come into the center for a social group. 

I need help but my parents don’t care or I don’t want my parents to know, what should I do?

If you are under 16 we do need parental or carer consent for you to access headspace. However if you would like to discuss your options please call us on 4931 1000. 

Address
headspace Cessnock can be found at 122 Vincent Street, Cessnock.

Public Transport
Accessing our services via wheelchair can be done so from the front of centre.

Bus stops are located 75m from the centre on the corner of Cooper St and Vincent St. Please visit the Rover Bus Timetable to view bus routes.

Parking
Free parking is located behind the centre on Cumberland Street and 2 hours parking is available on Vincent Street. 

Referral or Enquiry 
The easiest way to get support with headspace Cessnock is to have a chat to one of our intake team on the phone. You can do this by calling 4993 3450 between 9am - 4.30pm to book an appointment with the intake team. You can also ask a family member, friend, or someone you trust to call for you, or make a referral for a friend or family member yourself. Please note, we are a voluntary service. 

If you would like to refer a young person you can find our referral form here. Please fill out the details and email to headspacecessnock@samaritans.org.au or fax (02) 49311 060.

To book an appointment or ask a question feel free to call out friendly reception staff on (02) 49 311 000. Please note that phone referrals will only be taken between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:30 pm

To see a mental health clinician through headspace Cessnock you will need to see a General Practitioner (GP) to get a mental health care plan.  

First Appointment
On your first appointment, we'll ask you to fill out a registration form, and a survey on the ipad or via your phone using the QR code upon arrival. You'll then meet one of our intake officers who will have a longer chat with you about how you're going and how we can help. This usually lasts around 45 mins to an hour. We'll then make a plan with you for support. For some of our counselling options, you'll need a Medicare card in order to access sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan. To apply for a Medicare card, go to Services Australia website. If you don't have a Medicare card, you can call us to discuss options. 

Our flyer explaining what to expect at headspace Cessnock can be found here.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a tool used by doctors, counselors/therapists, and clients to shape the focus of mental health therapy. A mental health care plan helps therapists and clients make positive change happen through purpose, focus, and direction.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan initially gives you six rebatable sessions per calendar year. That means six sessions from January 1 - December 31.

At headspace Cessnock, this means that your sessions are FREE

Once you hit the six sessions though, you can ask for more if you and your psychologist think you need them. Head back to your GP to discuss your mental health treatment plan.

They’ll assess you and be able to refer you for four more rebatable sessions in that year. You can have a maximum of ten rebatable sessions in a calendar year.

Who Needs A Mental Health Treatment Plan?

Mental health treatment plans are for everyone experiencing mental health challenges and difficulties with life as well as for people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. Most young people who attend headspace Cessnock require a Mental Health Treatment Plan to access clinical services.  

Visit your GP

If you don’t have a regular GP, are looking for a new one, want to find one out of hours or one that bulk bills (which means you don’t have to pay anything - just bring your Medicare card along), the Government's Health Direct website is super handy. headspace Maitland also has a GP in on Thursdays to help with Mental Health treatment plans, call 4931 1000 for an appointment.

Once you’re at your appointment, tell your GP about what you’re going through, and ask about a mental health treatment plan.

If you haven’t received a diagnosis for a mental illness before, your GP will need to assess whether you have a diagnosable mental illness.

Sometimes a GP will want longer than their usual appointment time to do this.

There’s no need to be shy around your GP when you’re talking about mental health. It’s a topic they get asked about a lot: more than 1.2 million Australians used mental health treatment plans in the 2016 - 2017 financial year.

The GP will then decide if a mental health treatment plan and a referral to a psychologist is right for you.

If they think it’s the right decision, your GP will refer you to a psychologist for up to six Medicare rebatable sessions. A Medicare rebate is where Medicare will refund you part of the cost of your appointment with a doctor or specialist.

At headspace Cessnock, this means that your sessions are FREE

Confidentiality and our duty of care

When you talk to a headspace worker what you say is kept confidential. This means nothing you say can be passed on to anyone else without your permission, unless we are seriously worried about your safety or the safety of someone else. This is because we have a duty of care to try to keep everyone safe. In these cases we’ll provide only necessary information to appropriate support people and services that can protect you and/or others, such as a parent or nominated support person, a crisis service or the police. Where possible we will be open about this with you and let you know if our concerns reach the point where we need to involve other services. If you have any questions about confidentiality or our duty of care, download a copy of the headspace Privacy Policy at headspace.org.au/privacy-policy/ or speak to a headspace intake worker or counsellor prior to disclosing.

How do you collect my personal information?

To provide you with the best possible support, care and treatment, and continue to improve our service, we collect information about all of the  young people who access our services, the services they receive and the outcomes they achieve. Before you access our services, we will ask you to provide us with some personal information about yourself. We may also ask your permission to collect information about you from other health workers, such as your doctor.

Alcohol and Other Drugs

AOD provides support for young people who would like to quit or cut down on their alcohol or drug use.

Adolescent and Family Counselling

Tracey offers counselling and support that can help with a variety of issues including, disagreements of family rules and expectations or disruptions to family life due to separation, divorce, loss or other trauma.

Services Australia 

Leigha from Services Australia joins us to support young people with government services and payments. She can assist you with things like Centrelink payments, Medicare and Child Support.

headspace connect

You will talk regularly with a professional clinician over the phone for up to 10 weeks. Working together, you will discuss your aims and create a plan to make them happen. Appointments are available outside business hours to make it easier to attend.

headspace work and study

Do you need help with looking for a job? Or support in starting a career? Or advice on study options? No matter where you're at, headspace Work & Study is here to help you. Click here to access our work and study online support.

aimbig

AimBig help jobseekers with disability, mental health conditions and injury to find meaningful work every second Tuesday at headspace Cessnock. 

CAMHS

CAMHS attends headspace Cessnock every Tuesday and Wednesday.

MaiWel

Every second Thursday Kate from MaiWel will be at Cessnock headspace for vocational support which is a service you can use in addition to our work and study support online at headspace.

Rural Young Minds (RYM)

The RYM team is here at the Cessnock headspace centre every day of the week. They provide free complex youth mental health intervention for up to 6 months. 

Other Services

headspace Cessnock is connected to a range of outside services and providers in the Hunter and Upper Hunter region:

• Centrelink
• Youth Mental Health Project
• Samaritan's Specialist Homeless Services
• Samaritans Youth Early Intervention Activities & Casework

Our Staff

We have a dedicated team of friendly, welcoming staff who you can talk to about what’s going on in your life in a confidential, non-judgemental environment. Coming to see us is free, and you can phone us, email us or just come in. You can also ask your parents, a health worker or case manager to refer you. If you would like to book an appointment or ask a question call (02) 49 311 000 or send an email to headspacecessnock@samaritans.org.au if you would like to refer a young person.

Intake 

These guys will be your first port of call! After booking an appointment with headspace you will have a meeting with one of our amazing Early Intervention Mental Health Clinicians. They will listen to what’s going on and talk to you about what help is out there.

Counsellors

Our lovely counsellors can see you for up to 10 sessions with a mental health care plan, they will help you if you're just not feeling yourself and need support.

Adolescent and Family Counsellor

Tracey is our Adolescent and Family Counsellor who help parents and young people successfully resolve difficult issues and navigate their way through challenging times with a focus on strengthening family relationships.

Community Awareness & Engagement Officers

Aidan and Grace engage young people, their families and friends, schools and community groups to help build awareness and literacy of mental health in our community. They also facilitate the many youth groups held at the Centre! Interested in having us attend your school? Check out our Community Awareness and Engagement tab in the more info section or email us at headspacecessnockcaeo@samaritans.org.au for more info. 

headspace Cessnock values your input and we want to know what you have to say!

We want to know how we can improve our center, activities, social groups and events at headspace Cessnock. The feedback form is for complaints, suggestions or compliments for the center, the services we provide, groups, what you want to see more or less of! The event survey is to let us know if we should do the event again, change it up or give it a miss.

Feedback Form

Event Survey 

If you want to have a more active part in our centers service then please check out our volunteer options in our job section of the headspace Cessnock page.

Tuning in to Teens - Family Support Newcastle and Samaritans

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm
Dates: 7th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 21st and 23rd of January 2025
Where: Online (link provided on registration)

Discussions include:

• Develop new ways of talking with and understanding your teen
• Support your teen to manage difficult emotions 
• Develop you teen's skills in managing conflict
• Being kind and caring to yourself
• Join online from the comfort of your home 

To register or enquire please call Mark on 49 263 577.

New Group

We are wanting to start a new group in Cessnock! Please tell us what you would like to see at headspace Cessnock for a group! Examples are DnD, Art Group, LGBTQIA+ group, Activity Group, Social Group, Mindfulness Group or if you have another idea we would love to hear it! Please let us know through our feedback form!

Feedback Form

At headspace Cessnock we believe that youth participation is fundamental to the delivery of quality services for young people. We aim to provide young people with opportunities to meaningfully participate and collaborate in our daily operations, structure and services.

Youth Reference Group

Our Youth Reference Group(YRG) meets up every three weeks to discuss all that happens at headspace Cessnock. Our dedicated members organise, coordinate and attend youth events around Mental Health Month, National Youth Week, LGBTQIA+ events and awareness days, NAIDOC and many more.

Wanna join the team? We are always looking for new members! If you're aged between 12 and 25, live in the Maitland, Cessnock and Upper Hunter region and are passionate about promoting good mental health and wellbeing to young people then:

• • fill in this form
  • drop us a line at headspacecessnockcaeo@samaritans.org.au
  • give us a call on (02) 4993 3450
  • Come and say hi! We're located at 122 Vincent Street, Cessnock

Family and Friends Reference Group

Our Family and Friends Reference Group (FAF) meets once a month to discuss all things youth mental health and how we can best support our youth community and their families. As a collective: we listen, we learn and provide advice that guides the continuous development of headspace Maitland/Cessnock services.

As part of the Family and Friends Reference group you will:

• Help with projects and events that support parents and families
• Have input into strategies and campaigns that target parent and families
• Meet and work with other people who are passionate about youth mental health 
• Make a difference to youth mental health through media and promotion.

We appreciate the time your are taking to improve our service and the mental health of our youth. We know you have busy lives so we do communicate regularly via emails, and through our Facebook page/messenger group if you cannot attend a meeting. 

For more details or questions please contact the Community Awareness and Engagement Officer: headspacecessnockcaeo@samaritans.org.au or to join the FAF fill out this form.

Both the Youth Reference Group and Family and Friends Reference group meet at headspace Maitland located at 73 Elgin St, Maitland.

headspace Cessnock is always keen to attend and help out with groups or events and we can be booked in to attend your event, school, service or group. More information on what we offer can be found in the forms linked below.

In order to help us best suit your needs please note the following:

• We need at least 4 weeks notice of events and presentations.
• We may not be able to meet your request within the timeframe due to prior commitments.
• If you need to cancel an event or presentation, please advise us 1 week before.
• It may take 10 days for a staff member to process and get back to you.

If you would like to book for us to come to your school/uni/tafe or if you would like us to come to your service/community click the link below to complete the application form.

School/Uni/TAFE Engagement Form

Service/Community Engagement Form

Support for Family 

Parents, carers and family can provide vital support for young people when they are having a tough time. headspace is here to help support you through these challenges and transitions.

Professionals & Educators 

Whether you’re an educator, a school counsellor, a GP, an allied health professional, an employer, or anyone else who works closely with young people, the continued work you do in support of their mental health is critical. headspace recognises the importance of community care and skilled support, and has a range of resources and tools designed specifically for educators and professionals.

headspace Schools & Communities

headspace Schools & Communities is a national workforce that supports, engages and partners with education and health sectors across Australia, to build the mental health literacy and capacity of workforces. Driven by, and in alignment with systems and school improvement we are dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being outcomes of children, young people, families, and school communities.

Current Initiatives 

These initiatives are designed to support the mental health and well-being of school communities through evidence-based mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention and postvention services.

Be You

headspace is the delivery partner of Be You for primary and secondary schools across Australia. Be You is a national initiative for educators, aimed at promoting and protecting positive mental health in children and young people.

Mental Health Education Program

The Mental Health Education Program is a free service where mental health education workshops to secondary school communities across Australia.

Resources for Educators

headspace offers resources for educators on prevention, response or response to large scale incidents.

Schools Suicide Prevention Activities

Schools strive to be safe, supportive and inclusive communities. Recognizing the important role schools have in their communities in supporting the mental health needs of young people and their families, this initiative funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, delivers face-to-face training and education sessions to staff, students, parents and carers.