New partnership to support mental health in the CBD
A dual general health and mental health clinic, operated in partnership between Co-Health, The Salvation Army and The Alfred, will transform how some of Victoria's most vulnerable people access lifesaving health care.
Situated at The Salvation Army's 614 Project in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, the new clinic will make it easier for Victorians, including those with complex needs, to access services including primary care, pharmacotherapy and addiction medicine, social services navigation, and mental health care, referrals, psychiatric assessment and support.
This includes people who are rough sleeping, international students cut off from family support, people living with addiction, or navigating the complexities of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or Disability Support Pension (DSP).
Program Director of Alfred Mental Health and Addiction, A/Prof Simon Stafrace, said The Salvation Army Project 614 is “already well known to many as a place of sanctuary and welcome,” meeting people where they are with warmth, dignity, and practical help for over 130 years.
“The new mental health service that Alfred Health is embedding here aims to build on that ethos,” Simon said.
“We will do this by providing accessible, timely, and person-centred mental health and addiction support for those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”
“This partnership reflects a broader strategy to build lasting collaborations with community organisations that are already walking alongside people who are often marginalised or unseen,” Simon said.
“It’s about sharing responsibility, sharing capability, and showing up where we’re needed most.”
