Headspace is due to open its doors next month and has finally settled on a central location within the Randazzo Centre, across from the Woolworths Complex. 

Headspace media coordinator Hugh Holt said the new site is on track to be ready and open on or around September 24, 2018.  

The new youth mental health service facility is a product of eight long years of advocating and lobbying. 

“The facility will be operated by Anglicare NT and will provide early intervention mental health services for young people between the ages of 12 - 25 years where they can access a psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker, vocational therapist and a general practitioner (part-time) as part of a holistic and integrated service,” according to a Headspace tenancy application report.   

Currently, Headspace is seeking approval for a tenancy change over from the previous office site to a youth mental health facility. 

Most recently the site was used as the NAB bank and Traditional Credit Union. 

Planning documents state the proposed fit out will cost around $80,000. 

The application states that opening hours will vary, “but will typically operate from 9am to 8pm for four days a week between Monday and Friday. The clinic will be closed one day a week when outreach and community visits are undertaken.”

“Clients may have limited access to the facility on weekends (Saturday mornings).”

“The centre will allow young people access to essential services to support with relationship issues, bullying, family dysfunction, family violence, trauma, depression, alcohol and drug abuse issues or anxiety,” the report said.

“Early intervention will assist in tackling these issues in the early stages, increasing the likelihood of successful treatment and possibly avoiding an escalation of symptoms.”

Katherine has been identified as an area of high need, with high rates of reported psychological distress among young people and significantly higher youth suicide rates across the Northern Territory.

Headspace, an Australia wide franchise, has a range of stipulations for the location and look of the centre: it must be recognisable, easily accessible for youths, in the main part of town and the building must be green.

The Federal Government will invest more than $1.3 million to establish this new service in Katherine.

The exhibition period for the planning application closes on Wednesday August 15, 2018.

In a prepared statement today, Anglicare NT said: “Anglicare NT is currently finalising negotiations for our preferred location for headspace Katherine. These negotiations are critical to the success of headspace operations. 

“Anglicare NT warmly welcomes interest in headspace Katherine, we are passionate about achieving good mental health outcomes for young people in the Northern Territory. Anglicare NT is however, committed to ensuring all appropriate due diligence has been completed prior to making any public announcements about opening dates or service delivery.

“We look forward to continuing our discussions and engagement about headspace Katherine with the Katherine community and will have more to say about our progress in the near future.

“When negotiations and approvals are finalised, we will be happy to provide further information and be available to answer questions.”