Free Mental Health Support in Young

Young Medicare Mental Health Centre is a free and confidential mental health service, for those aged 16 and over, designed to make it easier for people to get support when they need it.

It is a place you can come to if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low, stressed, or not quite yourself, whether this has been building for a while or feels more recent. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral, and you don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong before reaching out.

At Young Medicare Mental Health Centre, you’ll be supported by mental health professionals who take the time to listen and understand what’s going on for you. Support is person-centred and guided by your needs. Together, you can explore what might be helpful for you right now, which may include short-term counselling or help connecting with other services.

You can come for a single visit or return for further support; there’s no pressure or obligation to commit to anything beyond what feels right for you. All services are provided at no cost, and your privacy and confidentiality are respected.

If you’re unsure whether this service is right for you, that’s okay. Many people feel uncertain before their first visit. Young Medicare Mental Health Centre is here to offer a safe starting point, a place to be heard, supported, and guided, without judgement or barriers.

Young Medicare Mental Health Centre provides counselling as the main form of support, with additional services available alongside this to help meet your broader needs. You don’t need to know exactly what kind of help you’re looking for; we can work that out together.

Support available includes:

• Counselling and mental health care
  Talk with a qualified mental health professional in a safe, supportive space about what’s been going on for you.
• Peer support
  As part of your care, you may be supported by a peer worker, someone with lived experience of mental health challenges who understands what it’s like from a personal perspective.
• Support for alcohol and other drug concerns
  If alcohol or other drug use is affecting your wellbeing, this support can be included as part of your overall care, in a respectful and non-judgemental way.
• Family and loved-one’s support
  Guidance and support for families, carers, and the people who support you, where this is helpful and appropriate as part of your care.
• Care navigation and coordination
  Help understanding and connecting with other services, provided alongside counselling to support your ongoing wellbeing.
• Culturally sensitive care
  Support that respects your background, identity, culture, and values, and is guided by what feels safe and appropriate for you.
• Help understanding the mental health system
  We can help explain your options and make the mental health system easier to navigate as part of your care.
• Short-term GP services
  Access to a doctor via telehealth for immediate or short-term health needs related to your mental wellbeing, where appropriate.

Support will look different for everyone. Some people focus mainly on counselling, while others also access additional supports as part of their care. Together, we’ll work out what’s most helpful for you, at a pace that feels right.

No. All services at Young Medicare Mental Health Centre are free.

The Centre is funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, which means there is no cost for any part of your care. You don’t need to worry about fees, Medicare payments, or unexpected bills, and everything you share with us stays private.

When you first get in touch with us, our friendly team will help you take the next step in a calm and supportive way.

When you first connect with us, we will:

• Explain the services we offer and how we can support you
• Ask a few simple questions to help set up your details
• Talk with you about booking an appointment with one of our clinicians

There’s no pressure, and you can ask questions at any time.

Your first appointment
Your first appointment is a chance to meet with an intake clinician and talk about what’s been going on for you. This is a conversation, not a test, and you don’t need to have everything worked out beforehand.

Together, you may create a Wellbeing Plan that reflects what matters to you. This might include:

• Clarifying what you’d like support with
• Exploring any additional supports that could be helpful
• Talking through treatment and care options that feel right for you

You’ll always be involved in decisions about your care, and you can move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

It’s okay to feel nervous or unsure, many people do. You won’t be expected to tell your story over and over again, and you only need to share what you feel ready to. Our team works together, so your care feels joined-up, supportive, and respectful of your time and energy.

That’s very common. Many people feel uncertain before getting in touch, especially if it’s their first time accessing mental health support or if they’ve had a difficult experience in the past.

You don’t need to be in crisis, and you don’t need to have the right words. You can take things at your own pace, choose how much you share, and pause or change your mind at any time. It’s okay to feel emotional, bring a support person, or take things slowly.

Reaching out doesn’t mean you’re committing to anything. It’s simply a first step, and one you can take in a way that feels right for you.

Waiting times can vary, depending on current demand and the level of support someone needs at the time. We prioritise people based on urgency, including safety concerns, to make sure support is provided where it’s needed most.

Our waitlist is always moving, and we’ll stay in touch with you while you’re waiting. You won’t be forgotten, and we’ll keep you updated about the next steps.

In some cases, you may be offered support from a Peer Worker or Care Navigator while you wait for a clinician appointment. This can help you feel supported, connected, and guided during this time.

If your situation changes or becomes more urgent while you’re waiting, you can let us know so we can reassess how best to support you.

That’s okay. You don’t need to have your own GP to access support at Young Medicare Mental Health Centre.

While you’re accessing support through the Centre, you can book an appointment with our in-house GP via telehealth at no cost. This may be helpful if you:

• Don’t currently have a regular GP
• Are facing long wait times to see your usual GP
• Find it difficult to afford GP appointments

Our GP can provide the care you’d expect from a general practitioner and, where needed, help connect you with other health or community supports.

When your support with the Centre comes to an end, we’ll work with you to help connect you with another GP service, so you continue to have access to ongoing care that suits your needs.

You won’t be left on your own to navigate this, support is designed to help you transition smoothly and feel confident about your next steps.

That’s okay. Language should never be a barrier to accessing mental health support.

Young Medicare Mental Health Centre can arrange professional interpreter and translation services, so you can access support in the language you’re most comfortable using. This support is provided at no cost and helps make sure you’re understood and feel supported.

If you need language support, you’re welcome to let us know when you get in touch, we’ll work with you to make accessing care as comfortable as possible.

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person accessing support at Young Medicare Mental Health Centre, culturally safe and respectful support is available.

Our Aboriginal Care Navigators  are here to walk alongside you and support your wellbeing in a way that respects your culture, values, and connection to community. They offer a safe space to yarn about whatever is impacting your wellbeing, at your pace, and in your own way.

Support may include:

• Culturally appropriate care
  Support that respects your culture, identity, and ways of knowing, being and doing.
• Help navigating services
  Guidance to make the health and mental health system easier to understand and access, without added stress.
• Connection with community
  Support to connect with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs, services, and community resources.
• Practical support and warm referrals
  Help removing barriers and linking you with services in a supportive, personal way, not just handing you a phone number.

Our Aboriginal Care Navigators work closely with the wider care team to make sure your support is coordinated, respectful, and centred around what matters to you.

You can choose whether you would like to access this support, and you’re welcome to talk with the team about what feels right for you.

Who might benefit from this support?

This support may be helpful if you:

• Are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person seeking culturally safe mental health support
• Would like to yarn with someone who understands culture, community, and lived experience
• Feel overwhelmed by services and would like support navigating the system
• Want help connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs or community supports
• Would value support that respects your identity, culture, and strengths

It’s okay if you’re unsure whether this support is right for you. Our team can talk with you about your options and support you to choose what feels best for you, now or in the future.

Your culture, identity, and story are respected here.

A Peer Worker is someone who has lived experience of mental health challenges, either through their own experiences or as a carer for someone close to them.

Because they’ve been there themselves, Peer Workers offer understanding, empathy, and support without judgement. They work alongside you, drawing on their lived experience to help you feel heard, understood, and less alone.

Support from a Peer Worker is flexible and guided by what matters most to you. How they support you will depend on your needs and goals, and may include sharing strategies, offering encouragement, or helping you build tools to support your wellbeing and recovery.

Peer Workers are part of the wider care team and work collaboratively with clinicians to support you in a way that feels personal, respectful, and supportive.

You can choose whether peer support feels right for you, and you’re always welcome to talk with the team about what type of support suits you best.

Who might benefit from peer support?

Peer support can be helpful if you:

• Would like to talk with someone who has lived experience and truly understands what it can be like
• Feel unsure, isolated, or overwhelmed and want support from someone who’s “been there”
• Would benefit from practical strategies, encouragement, or shared insights from lived experience
• Want support alongside counselling as part of your overall care

Peer support looks different for everyone, and it’s okay if it’s not what you need right now. Our team can talk with you about whether peer support might be helpful for you, now or in the future.

Care Navigators are here to help make things feel clearer and less overwhelming. They work alongside you to support your care and help you find the right services for your needs.

A Care Navigator can:

• Help connect you with the right services in your community
• Work with you to reduce barriers so accessing support feels easier and less stressful
• Provide warm referrals, meaning they help introduce you to other services rather than just giving you a phone number
• Guide you through the mental health system so it feels more manageable
• Support care that is person-centred, joined-up, and well-coordinated

Care Navigators work closely with clinicians and the rest of the team to make sure your support fits around you and what matters most. You’re always involved in decisions about your care, and support is guided by your needs and goals.

You can talk with the team about whether care navigation would be helpful for you, and support can be adjusted as your needs change.

Who might benefit from care navigation?

Care navigation may be helpful if you:

• Feel overwhelmed by the mental health system or unsure where to start
• Are accessing multiple services and would like support to coordinate your care
• Need help overcoming practical barriers, such as appointments, referrals, or follow-ups
• Would like support connecting with community services in a more personal way
• Want someone to walk alongside you as you work out your next steps

Care navigation looks different for everyone. It’s okay if this isn’t something you need right now, our team can talk with you about what support might be most helpful for you, now or in the future.

If alcohol or other drug use is affecting your wellbeing, support is available in a respectful and non-judgemental way. Many people experience mental health challenges and alcohol or drug concerns at the same time, and you don’t have to separate these to get help.

Support is provided by a clinician who understands how mental health, alcohol, and other drug use can interact. Their role is to listen, understand your situation, and work alongside you to support your wellbeing in a way that feels right for you.

Support may include:

• Personalised support
  A holistic conversation to understand what’s going on for you, your goals, and what support might be helpful.
• Counselling and practical support
  Ongoing support and guidance to help you manage challenges and make changes at your own pace.
• Group programs
  Opportunities to connect with others, share experiences, and learn in a supportive and respectful group environment.
• Referrals and care coordination
  Help connecting with other services if additional or specialist support would be helpful.
• Harm minimisation strategies
  Practical, realistic steps to help keep you safe and reduce risk, even if you’re not ready to make big changes.

Support is guided by your goals, whether that’s reducing use, stopping completely, taking a break, or finding safer ways to manage. There is no pressure to be at a particular stage, and you’ll be met with understanding, care, and respect.

Who might benefit from alcohol and other drug support?

This support may be helpful if you:

• Feel that alcohol or other drug use is impacting your mental health, relationships, or daily life
• Are feeling unsure about your use and would like a safe space to talk it through
• Want support alongside counselling for your mental health
• Are considering change, or simply want to explore your options
• Would like practical strategies to stay safe and reduce harm

It’s okay if you’re not sure whether this support is right for you. Our team can talk with you about what might be most helpful, now or in the future, and support can change as your needs do.

While we’re called the Medicare Mental Health Centre, we’re not part of Medicare and aren’t able to help with Medicare cards, claims, or billing enquiries.

Our role is to provide free and confidential mental health support and services. There is no cost to access care at our Centre, and you don’t need to manage Medicare claims or payments to receive support.

If you need help with Medicare cards or billing, Services Australia can provide assistance.