Transition to the Australian Government’s broader Head to Health initiative brings Victoria into alignment with services recently established in NSW and the ACT.

Other than rebranding, there is no change to the way Head to Health hubs will operate.

The service model remains the same. Head to Health hubs will continue to have multidisciplinary teams of mental health workers, including psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, and alcohol and drug workers. These teams will continue to coordinate with a patient’s regular GP or help them find a regular GP if they do not have one. The service is accessible to the consumer, and it recommends low to high intensity service options from across the state, Commonwealth and private mental health care system depending on need.

All hub providers will continue to operate in a collaborative care manner and will assist you in determining the level of mental health support appropriate for your patient or consumer.

Head to Health remains an additional service option to help you manage the number of patients experiencing stress and anxiety.

The intake phone number remains unchanged – 1800 595 212. It will continue to provide a central intake service that will find the best support for your patient.

Head to Health remains a free service. If you have a patient who needs support to get back on track, you can refer them to Head to Health on 1800 595 212.

Each hub will continue to have a multidisciplinary team from a variety of professional backgrounds delivering a range of service types. Depending on local needs, hubs may have GPs and mental health workers, including psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and alcohol and drug workers, who can support people onsite at a hub through telehealth or referral to other services.

The central intake will use the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) decision support tool (see below).

• People with level 1 and 2 needs will be connected to existing lower intensity services.
• Those with Level 3 and 4 needs may receive care at the hubs, either onsite or through telehealth or other more suitable services.
• Level 5 will be connected to specialist or acute mental health services, including emergency care or an area mental health triage.

No, not in the first instance. 

Please call Head to Heath on 1800 595 212. Our mental health team may request further information to assist your patient in accessing the most appropriate care. If your patient will receive intervention in the hub, you will be contacted for additional information and shared care planning.

No, not in the first instance. However, should your consumer need a mental health treatment plan to access other mental services, a Head to Health team member will contact you.

Yes, with consumer consent, the outcome of all your referrals will be communicated back to you.

We will help determine the level of care your patient needs – this may include online telehealth or face to face options as suitable. All face to face services will be held in a COVID-safe environment.

Yes. We encourage the use of shared care plans through a consumer’s mental health journey.

Head to Health is not a crisis service, so services operate from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. Callers during business hours will have the option to leave a message and receive a call back, while after hours, callers will hear a recorded message with details of other appropriate services.