Co-designed renovations unveiled at headspace Elsternwick
It was a full house at the unveiling of new renovations at headspace Elsternwick, one of three centres run by Alfred Health.
Youth Advisory Committee members, peer workers, clinical and operational staff were joined by Alfred Health Chief Executive Adjunct Prof Adam Horsburgh, headspace COO Julia Smith, South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network CEO Quinn Pawson and Member for Macnamara Josh Burns MP, to mark the occasion.
The new refurb was done in consultation with the headspace Elsternwick’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), a group of young people aged 16-25 who are passionate about mental health and represent the voices and perspectives of young people to the organisation.
YAC member Sophie McKenzie-Stripp said being in the new space, co-designed with the YAC, was “an amazing feeling”.
“We helped shape this headspace centre into a place that we as young people see ourselves reflected in,” she said.
“As part of the YAC, we connect with young people through school drop-ins, and we build our own community projects like the food pantry or the push-up challenge which we took around to schools.
“These new communal areas will help take away that isolating, shameful feeling that can come with seeking mental health support and will allow us to host so many activities for young people coming to the space.”
Alfred Chief Executive Adjunct Prof Adam Horsburgh congratulated all involved.
“The true value of these centres comes through providing a safe, welcoming environment where young people and their families can receive the guidance and support that they need,” Adjunct Prof Horsburgh said.
“Alfred Health is proud to be the lead agency of this centre, which fits with our purpose: to improve the lives of our patients and their families, and the communities that we serve.”
