Momentum Mental Health Toowoomba facing uncertain future due to lack of funding

After years of searching Allison Goldman finally found a mental health support service that gave her the momentum she needed, but it is now been in limbo and could leave hundreds of clients without support.

Allison Goldman on the Kokoda Trail with a team from Momentum Mental Health in June 2025.

Allison Goldman says she feels like she spent her life peering through greyscale glasses, and now she is finally seeing the world in full colour.

Since 2002 Ms Goldman has struggled through panic attacks, episodes of depression, and mental health struggles, and four years ago she finally found the support she needed.

Ms Goldman said Momentum Mental Health has helped her get where she is today, but the Toowoomba service is at risk of losing thousands of dollars in funding as the Primary Health Network redistribute their funds into a new Integrated Mental Health Hub.

The tender for this hub has left the longstanding community service with an uncertain future.

Ms Goldman said a year ago she would have gone into an absolute panic if Momentum’s services were at risk.

“The members that go there now, potentially if it closes, where are they going to go?” Ms Goldman said.

“I honestly don’t think there would be anywhere else in Toowoomba that would replace anything like Momentum.

“If they’re not there, and people can’t manage or learn to manage their mental illness, what’s going to happen?”

Ms Goldman said the many different group and individual sessions on offer at Momentum have made the difference in managing her depression, and had the incredible opportunity of going to Everest Base Camp and on the Kokoda Trail with Momentum.

Allison Goldman on the Everest Base Camp trek with a team from Momentum Mental Health.

The Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN said the new hub will offer more equitable funding and deliver integrated mental health services across the region, and an open market tender was released on March 14.

All existing service providers were offered six months’ additional funding to get them through to December 31, the PHN said in a statement on July 1.

“The PHN has provided six-month funding extensions to existing local providers in Toowoomba, to support continued service delivery while the hub becomes established, and to support safe transitions for people requiring care from the hub once it commences taking referrals,” the statement said.

Momentum chief executive Shirley-Anne Gardiner said they were ready to embrace a well-designed integrated model but it should not be replacing their grassroots work.

“Integration must add to – never replace – the trusted, community-led care that’s working right now,” she said.

“We should be a complimentary service to the new integrated hub. It shouldn’t be all or nothing because what we offer is unique.

“We are talking about grassroots level mental health care that everyone needs and benefits from – it’s such a tragic loss.”

Momentum board chair Chris Black, psychologist Clive Williams, chief executive Shirley-Anne Gardiner, and deputy chair Don Carlson

The tender was expected to be evaluated between May 12 and June 11 but PHN has extended that time frame saying they will now notify successful applicants by the end of July.

Momentum chair Chris Black said this delay and continued uncertainty around future funding has been detrimental.

“The current situation is completely unacceptable,” he said.

“We are talking about real people with real challenges being left in limbo.

“The lack of transparency and urgency is not just disappointing — it’s dangerous.”

Momentum board chair Chris Black as leading Toowoomba mental health service Momentum faces uncertain future amid funding cut.

Ms Goldman said she feels like the current mental health system doesn’t help people until it is too late, and that’s what sets Momentum apart.

“The mental health system is already failing,” she said.

“You don’t get help until you’re really really desperate.

“Momentum is being more proactive and give people the chance to get as many life tools in their backpack.”