Charity forced to rethink mental health service after 15 years

A mental health service that has been operating in Cairns for nearly 15 years can no longer be sustained by a charity organisation.

This is a mental health service, in Thomas St which is run by Centacare FNQ, which is being permanently shut down PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

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A MENTAL health service that has been operating in Cairns for nearly 15 years can no longer be sustained by a charity organisation.

The Centacare Mental Health Resource Service, also known as “10 Thomas St”, where it is housed at Cairns North, has no longer been continued by Centacare FNQ, citing new funding arrangements for mental health in the region.

Queensland Health last week announced an $11 million boost to funding for mental health services in the Far North, delivered by Mind Australia and Neami National under a new model.

Centacare FNQ executive director Anita Veivers said the new funding arrangement meant the organisation was unable to continue its recovery and resilience coaching work, in its current format.

“Our Thomas St service has been a great resource and support for people living with severe and persistent mental illness for many, many years,” she said.

“It has been a privilege for Centacare FNQ to share the recovery journey with local community members impacted by mental illness.

“We have been fortunate to employ great teams over this time, and we look forward to working closely with both Mind and Neami during the transition of services.”

She said, however, it was unfortunate there was a trend of government funding being directed to large national service providers, when there were already long-established local organisations providing these services.

“Local placed-based organisations such as Centacare FNQ work in and with communities, ensuring a personalised approach to service delivery,” she said.

Edge Hill resident Georgina Hutchinson, who was a client at Thomas St, said the service had been a success because it was a community-based grassroots organisation, housed in a discrete and welcoming Queenslander home, and had unique life coaching support.

“I fear the closure of the successful 10 Thomas St will endanger my own and others’ mental health and wellbeing,” she said. “I am aware that the closure of this invaluable service will affect the ethos of the prior training and delivery of services available, not to mention the waste of intellectual property and resources.”

Originally published as Charity forced to rethink mental health service after 15 years