On Wednesday 18 March 2026, headspace Coffs Harbour welcomed the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Hon. Emma McBride MP, along with Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler and Director of Integrated Community Wellbeing Aimee McNeill. Their visit offered an opportunity to see firsthand how recent investment is strengthening access to youth mental health services and enhancing the centre’s facilities.
A key focus of the visit was the headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program, which has supported a refurbishment of the centre’s waiting area. The refreshed space has been designed to feel more welcoming, calming and youth‑friendly—an important step in creating a positive first experience for young people and families when walking into the centre.
During the visit, Assistant Minister McBride met with staff, toured the centre and discussed how targeted funding across the headspace network is helping services respond to increasing demand for timely, accessible support for young people aged 12 to 25.
Centre Manager Sharna said the visit was “incredibly positive and genuinely supportive.”
“It was clear the Minister was truly interested in hearing directly from staff about the realities of delivering youth mental health services in a regional community. She asked thoughtful questions about demand at the centre, how long young people are waiting for support, and how improvements to the physical environment can help them feel calmer and more comfortable when they arrive. It was encouraging to demonstrate how targeted funding can make a real and immediate difference to young people’s experience of accessing care.”
headspace Coffs Harbour provides free and confidential mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drug, and work and study support for young people across the Coffs Coast. Like many regional communities, demand for youth mental health services continues to grow, reflecting broader pressures on the system.
“The Demand Management and Enhancement Program funding allowed us to improve our physical environment so young people feel comfortable and supported from the moment they walk through the door,” Centre Manager Sharna Waugh said. The refurbished waiting area now offers a more inclusive and calming space for young people and their families while they wait for appointments.
headspace Coffs Harbour is delivered locally by Health Voyage and is part of the national headspace network. headspace Coffs Harbour is funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN Program.