- Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect (Connect centre/s) is a new service dedicated to those who are supporting people living with mental health and substance use challenges or psychological distress.
- The Connect centres aim to provide families, carers and supporters of all ages with the vital networks they need to keep caring for their loved one while still looking after their own wellbeing.
- Support is free, and no referral is needed to access a Connect centre. They can be accessed in-person without an appointment or via phone or online booking.
On this page
About Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect
Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect is a new service dedicated to those who are supporting people living with mental health and substance use challenges or psychological distress.
Support is free of charge, and you don’t need a referral from your doctor or health professional.
Led by people with lived experience of supporting someone with mental health challenges, the Connect centres recognise families, carers and supporters as individuals with their own wellbeing needs.
The Connect centres provide support and services to Victorians that are responsive and tailored to the needs of families, carers and supporters, including information, networks, resources and access to hardship funds.
Getting support
Getting the support you need is free and easy through Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres.
Connect centres may be directly accessed in-person via walk-in (no appointment required), or via phone or online booking. Support will also be delivered on an outreach basis to family, carers and supporters in an agreed location to promote access.
You do not need a referral to seek and receive help from a Connect centre. People can choose to access any Connect centre regardless of where they normally reside. This includes those who reside outside Victoria.
Find your nearest service
Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres are now open across 8 Victorian regions.
Main centres have a full range of support available.
Secondary centres provide more targeted support, which may vary between centres. Visit each provider’s website below for the latest information about available support.
Location and contact details for Connect centres currently open are listed below. We will update this page as new main and secondary centres are established:
| Location | Contact details |
|---|---|
Gippsland Traralgon (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support Bairnsdale (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. 1300 000 717 |
Grampians Call for support | Tel. 1800 962 008 |
Hume Wangaratta (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support Wodonga (secondary centre): Shepparton (secondary centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. 1800 572 129 |
Loddon Mallee Bendigo (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support Mildura (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. 1800 979 730 |
Southwest Geelong (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support Warrnambool (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. 1300 000 717 |
Southeast (metro) South Melbourne (secondary centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. (03) 9066 1500 |
Northeast (metro) Ivanhoe (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. (03) 8850 4150 Email: |
Western (metro) Sunshine (main centre): Open for walk-ins or call for support | Tel. 0429 564 269 |
Current Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect providers are:
- Gippsland: Wellways (lead) with Satellite Foundation
- Grampians: Mind (lead) with Grampians Community Health and Ballarat Community Health (partners)
- Hume: Gateway
- Loddon Mallee: Mind (lead) with Mallee Family Care
- Southwest: Wellways (lead) with Satellite Foundation
- Southeast (metro): Star (lead) with Berry Street and VACCA (partners)
- Northeast (metro): Access Health and (lead) with Self Help Addiction Recovery Centre (SHARC), healthAbility, and Inspiro (partners)
- Western (metro): Jesuit Social .
Other available services
If Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect is not open near you, you can still call 1300 375 330 to talk to someone about your needs or be connected to other supports like a Mental Health and Wellbeing Local that may be close to where you live.
All services are family and carer inclusive and will provide education and support to families, carers and supporters of individuals experiencing mental illness and/or substance use concerns.
Whether you would like to receive help for yourself in your caring role, or for your own mental health and wellbeing needs – you will be able to get the care, support and advice you need, when you need it.
For free support, call 1300 375 330.
Transforming Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system
The way mental health and wellbeing services are delivered in Victoria is being redesigned to create a mental health and wellbeing system that provides holistic treatment, care and support for all Victorians.
The new system will be integrated and structured around a community-based model of care, where people can access treatment, care and support closer to their homes and support networks.
Importantly, people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress are central to the design and delivery of the new mental health and wellbeing system.
If you would like to learn more about mental health reform in Victoria, visit Mental health and wellbeing .
Crisis support
Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect is not a crisis service.
In an emergency which is life-threatening or where there is immediate risk of harm to anyone, call Triple Zero (000). For 24-hour crisis support, call on 13 11 14.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
