12 September 2019

Proposal put forward for private mental health facility in Deakin

| Lachlan Roberts
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A private mental health clinic has been proposed for Deakin, to address the “pent up demand” for local private mental health services in the ACT.

Barwon Investment Partners and Healthe Care Australia have announced plans to build a private mental health facility co-located with Deakin’s Calvary John James Memorial Hospital on the corner of Strickland Crescent and Dennison Street.

The $20 million facility will house up to 52 beds and will grow to up to 80 beds over the short to medium term. It will also include an adolescent unit with around 14 beds.

Healthe Care Australia said The Deakin clinic, which is earmarked to open by mid-2020, will deliver in-patient, day group program and out-patient adult mental health services for high prevalence mood disorders and trauma recovery services.

It will also deliver adolescent and young adult mental health intervention and treatment.

An artist impression of Deakin Clinic mental health inpatient ward. Image: Supplied.

Healthe Care Australia chief executive officer Steve Atkins said the Deakin clinic will alleviate the city’s identified need for additional mental health services and deliver Canberra’s only dedicated private mental health beds for adolescents.

“As a private hospital operator of choice, Healthe Care is committed to investing in communities where there is a clear demand for private mental health services supported by local clinicians,” Mr Atkins said.

“Our local consultation with clinicians to date suggests strong support for, and demand around adolescent and young adult, general adult mental health and trauma support services.”

Mr Atkins said Canberrans are being forced to travel interstate to access similar private mental health services, with the proposed clinic aiming to “address pent up demand for local and accessible private mental health services in the ACT”.

“This facility will fast-track the delivery of critical mental health services, so the people of Canberra and beyond can access treatment close to home, with the necessary support from family and friends while they continue their recovery journey,” he said.

Healthe Care Australia and Barwon said they expect construction to commence in the coming months, despite the development application not being approved yet.

An Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate spokesperson said the application is currently under assessment and the planning and land authority has not made a decision to date.

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