15 March 2023

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Peacock Centre transforms mental health services in Tasmania

Mental health services being delivered in Southern Tasmania have been transformed with the opening of the redeveloped Peacock Centre today.

The first of its kind in Tasmania, the innovative Centre hosts four new services that provide contemporary, recovery-focused care for those who need it, their families and their friends.

The new Peacock Centre is designed to make mental health care in the community more comfortable, taking a holistic, compassionate approach. It is home to:

• Peacock House, a 12-bed short-stay unit that provides specialist treatment in a home-like environment for people who do not require admission to hospital;
• A Mental Health Integration Hub, bringing together community organisations to provide mental health and wellbeing support, help to navigate services, and provide brief interventions;
• A Safe Haven, supporting people in suicidal or situational distress and their families, friends, or support networks, in a safe and supportive environment; and
• A Recovery College classroom, providing new opportunities for people in the community to improve their mental health, wellbeing, and personal recovery through education.

Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Jeremy Rockliff, said today’s opening is another important milestone in the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s mental health reform agenda.

“Today is a significant moment in our plan to improve mental health services and patient outcomes for all Tasmanians,” the Premier said.

“This modern, community-based centre provides a range of new services that will enable Tasmanians experiencing mental health challenges or suicidal distress to get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

“We know the best place for many people to receive mental health care and support is in community settings, as it can prevent the need for unnecessary hospital presentations and admissions.

“This approach is central to the Peacock Centre, with the design of services and the built environment strongly influenced by the voices of those with lived experience and the wider community to provide a compassionate and sustainable community-based model of care.

“The Peacock Centre also delivers a significant injection of additional resources into the mental health workforce with over 40 new multidisciplinary positions, including peer workers with lived experience of mental health, alcohol, or substance use.”

The Peacock Centre redevelopment forms part of the Tasmanian Government’s $20.7 million investment in new mental health facilities in Southern Tasmania.

This also includes plans to open a second mental health centre at St John’s Park in 2025 which will provide another Safe Haven, 15 short-stay beds, and a Mental Health Integration Hub, co-located with the Statewide Tasmanian Eating Disorder Service.

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