MEDIA RELEASE: There is Help aHead – New mental health hubs coming

14 January 2026

A new model of mental health care is coming to Sydney this year, with the launch of two integrated mental health hubs. The model aims to improve access to mental health support for the community by delivering services that address social, physical and emotional needs. Opening in mid‑2026, the hubs – which will be branded Help aHead – will offer a single, community‑based entry point for adults needing mental health, physical health and psychosocial support.

Commissioned by Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN), the hubs will be delivered by One Door Mental Health in the Inner South and Grand Pacific Health in the Sutherland areas of the region.

“Help aHead represents a major step forward in how we support people experiencing mental health challenges,” said Nathalie Hansen, CEO of CESPHN. “We congratulate One Door Mental Health and Grand Pacific Health on successfully winning the tender, and we look forward to welcoming the community into these new spaces later this year.”

Help aHead will provide trauma‑informed, culturally safe and recovery‑oriented care. Designed in partnership with people with lived experience, GPs, service providers, local health districts and other key stakeholders, the model focuses on fostering hope, connection and empowerment.

Each hub will bring together multidisciplinary teams offering clinical and non‑clinical services, including psychological therapies, psychosocial support and physical health care. The model is built to support people with a wide range of needs, including those with co‑occurring conditions or complex psychosocial barriers.

People currently receiving support through CESPHN‑funded programs will transition into the hubs, ensuring continuity of care with no disruption. The new model also creates opportunities for more integrated, wrap‑around support.

By strengthening pathways between community services, primary care and tertiary mental health services, Help aHead aims to set a new standard for accessible, person‑centred mental health care in the region.

This service has been made possible through funding provided by the Australian Government under the PHN Program.

About Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network:

Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) is a not-for-profit organisation with a focus on improving the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in Sydney, from East to South and the Inner West. CESPHN provides support and training to local health professionals and helps connect them to relevant services in the region to support their patients. CESPHN identifies the needs of people in the region and commissions services throughout central and Eastern Sydney to meet those needs.

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Media Contact

Sarah D’Arcy

Marketing and Communications Manager, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN

P: 02 9304 8687 E: s.darcy@cesphn.com.au

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