Independent evaluation of Medicare Mental Health Centres and Head to Health Phone Service

Project Details

A consortium comprising Monash University and the University of Melbourne is evaluating the 20 Medicare Mental Health Centres (previously ‘Head to Health Centres’) that commenced in 2021-2023 and the Head to Health Phone Service introduced in July 2022.

Medicare Mental Health Centres aim to provide free welcoming services to help adults access mental health supports that meet their personal needs. They:

1. provide assessment to help identify people’s needs;
2. help people and their family members navigate services and find the right services;
3. support for people experiencing significant distress; and
4. deliver short to medium term services for people experiencing moderate distress.

The national Head to Health Phone Service is designed to operate alongside Medicare Mental Health Centres and the Head to Health website to provide multiple entry points to engagement, assessment, and treatment for people with a range of mental health and/or alcohol and other drug problems and their family members/ partners/ friends/ carers.

The aim of the evaluation is to analyse the extent to which these services are achieving their objectives and vision, focusing on:

1. Implementation,
2. Effectiveness,
3. Efficiency, and
4. Sustainability and future directions.

The outcomes and findings of the evaluation will inform future national policy for these services.

Researchers

Dr Bridget Bassilios (Project Co-lead, University of Melbourne)
b.bassilios@unimelb.edu.au
+61 3 8344 0662

Prof Cathy Mihalopoulos (Project Co-lead, Monash University)

Funding

Department of Health and Aged Care