More than 100 community members, carers, health professionals and service providers have helped shape the future of mental health care in Wellington Shire, with Gippsland Primary Health Network (Gippsland PHN) completing a comprehensive consultation and co-design process for the new Medicare Mental Health Centre in Sale.
Funded by the Australian Government, the new centre is expected to open in the first half of 2027 and will provide free mental health care and support for people across the Wellington local government area and surrounding communities.
Throughout July and August 2026, Gippsland PHN undertook an extensive engagement program to better understand the needs, barriers and priorities of local communities. The consultation included online surveys, workshops, community engagement sessions, health professional forums and targeted discussions with priority population groups and key stakeholders.
A total of 26 engagement activities were delivered, with insights from more than 100 participants now informing the development of the centre’s service model.
What the community told us
Participants consistently spoke about the need for a service that is easy to access, welcoming and connected to the communities it serves.
Many described the current mental health system as difficult to navigate, with people often required to manage multiple referrals, retell their story to different services and navigate complex pathways on their own.
A strong message emerged that support should be available earlier, closer to home and throughout a person’s mental health journey.
Five key priorities were identified for the new Medicare Mental Health Centre:
- Creating a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment
- Providing a community-based alternative to emergency department presentations where appropriate
- Improving integration between services and reducing gaps in care
- Embedding lived and living experience and peer support throughout the service
- Improving access to psychiatry, prescribing support and medication reviews.
Overarching themes from the consultation included:
- Easier access and better navigation
- Better connected services
- Lived experience and peer support
- A welcoming and non-clinical environment
- Outreach and rural access
- Addressing service and workforce gaps
- Inclusive and culturally safe care
View a full version of the engagement summary here.
Next steps
Gippsland PHN thanks everyone who contributed their time, experiences and ideas throughout the consultation and co-design process.
The feedback will play a critical role in shaping the design and operation of the new Medicare Mental Health Centre in Sale, alongside program requirements, workforce considerations and available funding.
As planning progresses, Gippsland PHN will continue to keep the community informed and provide updates through the Medicare Mental Health Centre Sale project webpage.
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