People across Kempsey and the Macleay Valley will have greater access to local mental health support through two new initiatives aimed at delivering care closer to home.
A new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven has opened on Wide Street, offering free walk-in mental health and suicide prevention support without the need for an appointment or referral.
Kempsey has also been selected for a Mental Health Hospital in the Home (HiTH) pilot program, allowing eligible patients to receive hospital-level mental health care in their own homes or community settings.
Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said the new services were designed to ensure people could access support earlier and closer to home.
“People should be able to get the right care at the right time, in the least restrictive setting possible,” Jackson said.
“That is exactly what we are delivering in Kempsey with the Mental Health Hospital in the Home pilot and the new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven.”
The services aim to reduce reliance on hospital emergency departments and provide more culturally safe care options for local residents.
Safe Haven to provide local, culturally safe support
The newly renovated Safe Haven will provide a welcoming, non-clinical space where people can seek immediate support close to home.
Staffed by Aboriginal peer workers with lived experience and strong community connections, the service has been developed to provide culturally responsive care while working alongside the existing Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service.
Jackson said the service reflected a growing focus on community-led mental health care.
“The new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven is another powerful example of what better mental health care looks like — culturally-led, inclusive, and designed by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people,” she said.
“It reflects a commitment to services grounded in culture, community and lived knowledge, where people feel safe, respected and understood.”
Kempsey Shire Mayor Kinne Ring said the Safe Haven would make support more accessible for local residents.
“The Safe Haven is a genuinely important addition,” Ring said.
“A free, walk-in space where anyone can access support without an appointment or referral.
“Being local, accessible and culturally safe will make a real difference in helping people feel comfortable seeking help when they need it.”
The Safe Haven is open Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm and is available to all members of the community.
Hospital-level care delivered at home
The Mental Health Hospital in the Home pilot gives local patients an alternative to inpatient care by delivering acute mental health support in home and community settings.
The model is designed to help people stay connected to family, culture and support networks while receiving treatment, and to reduce the impacts associated with long hospital stays.
Mid North Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Jill Wong said the initiative would give people more options for care in the region.
“The launch of the new Mental Health Hospital in the Home model of care is a significant milestone for our region, allowing people to receive intensive, high-quality mental health care safely at home and in their community, close to family, culture and supports,” Wong said.
The pilot has also increased capacity at Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit for people requiring admission.
The program will be independently reviewed at six and 12 months.
The Mental Health Line is available 24 hours a day on 1800 011 511. Crisis support is also available through 13YARN (13 92 76), Lifeline on 13 11 14, or via text on 0477 13 11 14.
Read all the way through to the end of the story? So did lots of other people. Advertise with North Coast Times to reach locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.