Access now: Medicare Mental Health Centre supports
Aug 21, 2025
Access now: Medicare Mental Health Centre supports
Welcoming, walk-in mental health supports at no cost.
Aug 21, 2025
Members of our North Brisbane and Moreton Bay community can access free, walk-in mental healthcare support at new Medicare Mental Health Centres, with services now available in Inner-North Brisbane (at Lutwyche), Strathpine and Caboolture, with a centre in Redcliffe opening soon.
Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride MP, and Queensland Minister for Health, Tim Nicholls MP, officially opened the sites on Friday.
“This is such an important day for everyone in the local community at Lutwyche, Caboolture and Strathpine,” said Assistant Minister McBride at the event.
“Thank you to Brisbane North PHN, our delivery partner. Without you, this would not be possible.”
L–R: Karen Dare, CEO | Communify, Libby Dunstan, CEO | Brisbane North PHN, Assistant Minister Emma McBride, Madonna Jarrett MP, Lauren Bidstrup, Manager | Inner North Brisbane Medicare Mental Health Centre, and Minister Tim Nicholls at the opening of the Inner North Brisbane Medicare Mental Health Centre last Friday.
Medicare Mental Health Centres provide immediate, short-to medium-term mental health supports and service navigation for people in distress. Adults (and their families and carers) experiencing emotional or psychological distress, crises, mental ill health or addiction can present to a centre without the need for an appointment, GP referral or mental health treatment plan.
This no wrong door approach to mental healthcare with no out of pocket cost or Medicare card required puts “mental health at the heart of Medicare and quality care in the heart of communities,” said Assistant Minister McBride.
Each centre is staffed by qualified mental health professionals working alongside people with lived experience, who will listen to your needs and work with you to ensure you receive the right supports, at the right time.
Three Medicare Mental Health Centres across our region, funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments and commissioned by Brisbane North PHN, have transitioned from Integrated Mental Health Hubs – an innovative service model pioneered by our PHN to deliver clinical and non-clinical supports in one location and simultaneously.
This hub model has, from 2019 until now, enabled a more seamless approach to stepped care, allowing people with mental illness to access tailored service packages.
Building on the success of these hubs, Medicare Mental Health Centres across Australia will soon also provide enhanced services that will ensure each centre can provide free access to a psychologist and psychiatrist either in person or via telehealth.
These services are for everyone – even if it is your first time seeking support.
These new Medicare Mental Health Centres offer Northsiders a safe and welcoming place to access mental health support and care close to home.
Locations and operators
Inner North Brisbane Medicare Mental Health Centre, operated by Communify Queensland, is temporarily operating out of Bardon, with the official Lutwyche site opening soon.
Caboolture Medicare Mental Health Centre is operated by Stride.
Strathpine Medicare Mental Health Centre is operated by Neami.
An additional Medicare Mental Health Centre, also operated by Communify Queensland, will soon open in Redcliffe.
43 centres will be open nationally, with 13 across Queensland.
“A big thank you to everyone who will make this place operational because it can’t be done without you,” said Tim Nicholls MP at the opening last Friday.
We will continue to work alongside the community, First Nations people and others to make sure that these are safe places where everybody is welcome and people get the support and care they deserve.
