December 14, 2023
Kingaroy’s new mental health support service, Head To Health, is having a “soft opening” this week.
Tradespeople were still putting in some final touches on Thursday, but spokesperson Margie Hams said people seeking support were welcome to come through the doors from Friday.
Head To Health is funded by the Federal Government and is being delivered in the South Burnett by Open Minds.
The free service caters for people aged 18 to 65 but people outside this age bracket will also be helped to find supports that would best suit their needs.
The Head To Health building is located in the old garden centre building, next door to Kingaroy Joinery, in Kingaroy Street.
It is open for 10:00am to 6:00pm on week days.
People are free to come in, make a cup coffee, sit and have a chat, relax or even have a shower and wash their clothes.
The services offered have been “co-designed” by people from the health and welfare community in the South Burnett to best suit local needs.
“The original co-design group has now evolved into a reference group,” Margie said.
“It is important that we tailor this service to our region. We have the freedom to design this as we go.”
Interviews are still being conducted to fill some positions, but when Head To Health is fully staffed it will have two wellbeing co-ordinators, two intake officers, two or more mental health clinicians, a senior mental health clinician, a program support co-ordinator and a receptionist.
Clinical lead Kira Thomas and community development lead Margie Hams, who have been representing Head To Health at recent events, will also be on hand.
The complex contains an administration area, training room, community kitchen, community lounge, laundry, all-abilities toilet and shower, three consulting rooms and a clinical room.
There is also a “sensory” room, a quiet and calming space where people can relax if they are feeling overwhelmed.
Another room has been set aside for families with children.
A large outside area is also being developed, incorporating some of the garden beds from the old centre, but work in this space will not be completed until next year.
A pergola area with tables, chairs and a community barbecue is also planned.
Head To Health also offers a phone service which is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, on 1800-595-212.
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What Goes Around …
When the Head To Health team moved into the old garden centre building, they gutted the inside to create new rooms and meeting spaces, and disassembled the old wooden rafters in the rear garden section.
These lengths of timber, which were painted but in good condition, were dropped off to the Kingaroy Men’s Shed.
Volunteers at the Shed are now turning the timber into outdoor furniture which will go back into the new outside area at Head To Health.
In an amazing coincidence, one of the Men’s Shed volunteers, Ross Bean – who is working on creating the furniture – was involved in the erection of the same timber at the garden centre years ago.
