Fears for youth with help hub set to close

A mental health and wellbeing youth hub in Melbourne's east will close at the end of the year, despite a portion of its funding remaining unspent.

The Lilydale Youth Hub has offered early intervention support for 12- to 25-year-olds in the Yarra Ranges struggling with housing, study, family violence and alcohol substance abuse issues.  

Law student Charley, 23, who found the hub after costs and waiting lists precluded her from accessing a psychologist, said the service had helped alleviate stress.

"It also helped put things into perspective, in that, if you're not going to do well in school, it's not the end of things," she told AAP.

Charley, who organised a rally to save the centre this month, said she was concerned about the hub's imminent closure because it was hard to find support in the outer suburbs.

"It shouldn't have to be a challenge... just to grow up in this area," she said.

The hub was established by the former federal government for three years in 2019, but did not open until 2021 due to pandemic-related delays.

As a result it is also under-budget.

Community health service Inspiro, which operates the hub with other community organisations, is asking the unspent funds to be used to extend operations for six months, with hopes to secure additional funding after an expenditure review due in 2023.

"The hub closure is, I suppose, a demonstration of a lack of commitment to youth mental health," Inspiro chief executive Sue Sestan said.

"There will be young people who will simply not access life-saving help if we are not there to help them navigate the system and reassure and support them along the way."

The federal department of health said the hub's operations had already been extended by six months to December 31, 2022, its funding had always been time-limited and the government was investing in youth mental health services in the area. 

"The government is prioritising this funding for Headspace Lilydale to assist it to address local needs," a government spokesman said.

"Headspace Lilydale will receive this funding in early 2023 – noting this is a permanent and ongoing funding boost for this service."

Client services manager Emma Grose said the hub's early-intervention and service connection focus was different to Headspace's psychological therapy service.

"We have a great relationship with them (Headspace). However, we receive more referrals from them than we do to them," Ms Grose said. 

She said the Yarra Ranges had the highest reported levels of youth mental health issues in the region.

A health department spokesman said young people seeking support in the Yarra Ranges community are encouraged to contact the Eastern Melbourne Mental Health SupportConnect Team on (03) 9800 1071 or by email at [email protected].

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