New Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub to open in Tuggeranong, expanding free support for ACT children

Children and families across the Australian Capital Territory will soon have greater access to free mental health care, with the Australian Government announcing a new Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub will open in Tuggeranong later this year.

Delivered in partnership with the ACT Government, the Kids Hub will provide free mental health support for children from birth to 12 years of age and their families, strengthening early intervention at a time when children's mental health continues to be a growing national focus.

The announcement builds on the success of Canberra's existing Medicare Mental Health Centres, which have collectively delivered more than 20,000 walk-in support sessions, demonstrating strong community demand for accessible mental health care.

The Tuggeranong Kids Hub forms part of the Australian Government's broader investment in expanding access to free mental health services for children and young people.

Designed specifically for children aged birth to 12 years and their families, the Hub will provide:

• free mental health support
• early intervention services
• family-centred care and guidance
• connections to additional supports where required.

By removing cost barriers, the service aims to make it easier for families to access help early, before challenges become more complex.

For the early childhood education and care sector, the announcement reinforces the growing recognition that children's mental health and wellbeing begin in the earliest years of life.

Early childhood educators are often among the first professionals to notice changes in a child's behaviour, emotions or development. Accessible community-based services provide an important pathway for families seeking additional support and can complement the work already taking place within early learning settings.

The new Kids Hub is expected to strengthen referral pathways by providing families with timely access to specialist mental health care close to home.

The Kids Hub model has been designed to support both children and the important adults in their lives, recognising that children's mental health is closely connected to family wellbeing.

Key features of the model include:

• early intervention to support children as concerns emerge
• free access to care through Medicare-funded services
• support tailored to the needs of children and their families
• connections with local health and community services where appropriate.

This collaborative approach aims to ensure families receive the right support at the right time while reducing the need for more intensive intervention later.

The expansion of children's mental health services is particularly significant for early childhood education and care providers, who play a vital role in supporting children's social and emotional development.

Having dedicated services available for younger children gives educators greater confidence that families can access specialist support when concerns arise, while reinforcing the importance of early identification and intervention.

As awareness of children's mental health continues to grow, initiatives such as the Tuggeranong Kids Hub strengthen the broader network of support available to children during the critical early years, helping to improve long-term outcomes for learning, development and wellbeing.

The new Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub is expected to open in Tuggeranong later this year, with outreach services commencing ahead of the permanent site's opening.

Families, educators and community organisations can learn more about the new service and the Australian Government's investment in children's mental health by reading the full announcement from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing here.