One in five Tasmanians will experience mental illness this year, with residents on the north-west coast soon to get a new option for support through a $40 million Mental Health Hub announced for Devonport.
Revealed yesterday as part of the city’s ‘Living City’ urban renewal project, the hub promises to reshape how mental health care is delivered, with a strong focus on community-based support.
“Institutional settings and hospitals are often not the best place for people to recover from mental illness,” said Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Roger Jaensch.
“This is a place where people can come when they believe that they may have a mental health problem, where they can receive assistance when they’re in crisis, when they are recovering from treatment or a stay in hospital.”
“They can receive education and information about how to live with and manage their mental health longer term.”
With the state government contributing $7.6 million for specialised interior fit-out, the hub will focus on crisis support, recovery assistance and education without providing inpatient beds.
Local construction company Fairbrother will partner with Devonport City Council and the state government to build the facility, with work set to begin in September. Completion is expected by September 2027.
Deputy Mayor Stacey Sheehan praised the concept design as “outstanding” and said it would “create a new benchmark for commercial development in the city of Devonport”.
Jaensch said unlike traditional facilities, the hub will allow patients to maintain community connections.
“This is a place where a number of service providers will be able to work in a coordinated way to meet the needs of people who have complex needs, but who can go home to live in their own homes and their communities, keep their jobs, stay in education and continue to be part of their community and society,” he said.
“The evidence says this is the way to go.”
The hub is part of a broader $190 million statewide investment in mental health facilities over four years, with an additional $44 million for mental health services across Tasmania.
