The Albanese government has pledged $16.7 million to open eight additional, free perinatal mental health centres to better support expecting and new parents.
The centres will be operated by not-for-profit organisation Gidget Foundation Australia and are designed to provide specialist assessment and treatment for parents who are experiencing or at risk of depression and anxiety during pregnancy, or during the first year of their child’s life.
The funding for the centres will be provided if Labor is re-elected.
The centres are completely free for parents who have a referral from a GP and a mental health care plan.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the centres will provide free support for families needing extra mental health support.
“It’s common to be overwhelmed and tired during pregnancy and as a new parent, but many Australians are faced with far greater challenges,” Butler said.
“Becoming a parent is a profound change, for many parents understandably it can be overwhelming.
“These Perinatal Mental Health Centres will provide families needing that extra support for free.”
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that’s already working to support the emotional wellbeing of expecting and new parents. Its CEO, Arabella Gibson, said the centres will provide much-needed support for parents where they need it most.
Currently, perinatal depression and anxiety impacts over 100,000 Australian parents each year.
“The additional eight Gidget House locations will be determined based on areas of need, and we know that by increasing accessibility throughout Australian states and territories, more parents will receive timely intervention which we know is important for recovery,” Gibson said.
“Gidget Foundation Australia has supported over 10,000 families through the delivery of nearly 100,000 appointments since inception, so we’re delighted to be able to bring our face-to-face specialist perinatal counselling to even more expectant, new and potential parents.
“Every dollar invested in perinatal mental health with the Gidget Foundation, reduces the burden and cost of perinatal depression and anxiety to Australia with a threefold return.”
This election commitment comes after the government invested $26.2 million (over four years) on 12 perinatal mental health services during its first term.
It also comes one week after Labor promised it would fund a $1 billion mental health package, with a focus on free youth services, if it is re-elected.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last month announced the Coalition would spend $400 million on youth mental health services if it elected. The Coalition has also pledged to reinstate 20 Medicare-funded psychology sessions (rather than the current 10).
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