Dubbo Medicare Mental Health Centre Open Day  

On Tuesday, 30th September, Dubbo Medicare Mental Health Centre commenced its official opening with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Margaret Walker, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Minister Emma McBride. We then had the privilege of hearing our Peer Wellbeing Navigator Joanne Milson-Naden lived experience story. Guests included Mayor Josh Black and Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders. 

The event also featured a Centre tour and morning tea. 

One of the standout moments from both events came from Jo Milson-Naden. As a proud Wiradjuri woman with lived experience, Jo shared a powerful reflection on what it means to have services like these available in the community, a moment that even brought the Minister to tears. 

The celebrations gained strong local media attention, helping to highlight the impact and importance of these new Centres across the region. 

Bathurst Medicare Mental Health Centre Community Day 

On Wednesday, 1st October, Bathurst celebrated the opening of their Centre and the start of Mental Health Month with their community. The event began with a Centre tour before guests gathered across the road at The Greens on William for a Welcome to Country by Aunty Shirley Scott, followed by guest speakers, morning tea and networking.  

Both guest speakers, Andrew Gee MP and Paul Toole MP took the time to celebrate the Bathurst event, showing their support for accessible mental health in the region. In addition, we also had Deputy Mayor Ben Fry and Councilor Jaclyn Underwood share the support of the Centre.  

“Today, we celebrated the official opening of the Bathurst Medicare Mental Health Centre, a space that will make a real difference to the lives of so many in our community” – Andrew Gee MP  

“Unfortunately, mental health is an issue which is often swept under the carpet, but this is being addressed with this great initiative right here in Bathurst” – Paul Toole MP 

The Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSWPHN) has partnered with Stride, Wellways and Clarity Health Care to deliver these essential services to the community. 

Support resources: 

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs urgent help outside opening hours, please contact 000. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by this story or needs support, please reach out: 

• Medicare Mental Health national phone service: 1800 595 212 
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au 
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au 
• MensLine: 1300 789 978 | mensline.org.au 

The official opening took place on Thursday, 16th October and began with a heartfelt Welcome to Country delivered by the Centre’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Shannan. Guests then heard from several speakers, including government representatives, Stride leaders and Peer Worker Tony Read, who courageously shared his lived experience story. Before concluding with Minister McBride leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially opening the doors to the community. 

Tony’s journey to becoming a Peer Worker stems from his own experience of struggling to find the right support after two lengthy hospitalisations for his mental health. 

“Either I didn’t know what [support] was there or it simply wasn’t there,” the 57-year-old told The Advocate. 

“There was no one who understood me or how to navigate the seriously lacking, fragmented and complex mental health system well enough to provide meaningful assistance and to help guide me on my recovery journey.” 

Prior to the Centre’s opening, Tony was involved in the co-design process, an initiative that brings together people with lived experience and mental health professionals to collaboratively shape services that are relevant and effective. This inclusive approach ensures that care is grounded in real-world needs, empowering the community and creating more meaningful outcomes. 

Now, in his role at the Centre, Tony supports others as they navigate their own challenges, helping them connect with the right services and begin their recovery journey with understanding and hope. 

Minister McBride, who previously worked in the mental health sector, spoke about the importance of providing early, accessible support close to home. 

“They’ll be greeted by a warm and welcoming place and by somebody who has their own lived experience. And often that is the best start to accessing support and care, someone who’s walked in your shoes and understands. If they do need support from a clinician, that can also be arranged for them as well. We’re bringing together lived experience with clinical experience for the first time in your community.”
– Minister Emma McBride shared on ABC Breakfast Radio, North Tasmania. 

The Devonport Medicare Mental Health Centre is open Monday to Friday, 10am–6pm, offering free mental health support for anyone aged 18 and over, with no referral or appointment needed. 

The Centre is operated by Stride and supported by funding from Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN) through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program, ensuring essential mental health services are available to the Tasmanian community. 

Read Minister McBride’s statement on mental health delivered in Parliament, which highlights the Devonport and Launceston Medicare Mental Health Centre here. 

Support resources: 

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs urgent help outside opening hours, please contact 000. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by this story or needs support, please reach out: 

• Medicare Mental Health national phone service: 1800 595 212
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au 
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au 
• MensLine: 1300 789 978 | mensline.org.au