The Carroll Labor Government is bringing mental health care closer to home for young people in the Goulburn Valley, with two new services opened in Shepparton.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes today officially opened the new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) centre, providing around-the-clock care for people aged 16 to 25 experiencing mental health challenges.

Designed to feel like a home away from home, the free service gives young people a safe, welcoming space to recover while staying connected to family, friends, school and work.

Young people can receive more intensive support to help avoid a hospital admission, or get the care they need as they return home after a hospital stay.

The purpose-built centre has 10 private bedrooms with bathrooms, shared kitchen and living spaces, and outdoor gardens.

Run by Goulburn Valley Health in partnership with Mind Australia, young people, carers and clinicians helped shape its design.

Shepparton is one of five new and three refurbished 10-bed youth recovery centres funded through Labor’s $141 million investment, delivering on a key Royal Commission recommendation and doubling YPARC capacity statewide.

Locals in Shepparton are also benefiting from a new home for Shepparton’s Adult and Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service - relocated from Shepparton Hospital.

The new two-storey building brings specialist community care into a purpose-built setting, with dedicated treatment and consultation rooms.

It supports care for adults, alongside age-appropriate services for infants, children and young people up to 25.

Together, these services mean more people across the Goulburn Valley and Hume region can get the support they need.

The Carroll Labor Government is not wasting any time building a mental health system that works for all Victorians.

A Liberal–One Nation Coalition would put that care at risk with their $40 billion cuts plan and push to Americanise our health system.

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“For young people in the Goulburn Valley, this means getting the support they need without having to travel far from the people they love and maintaining important connections with family, friends and school community while they recover.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt

“Every young person deserves mental health care close to home. Labor is delivering it – a Liberal–One Nation Coalition’s $40 billion cuts plan would put it at risk.”