Shirley-Anne Gardiner (centre) with other Momentum Mental Health staff members.
Share this @internewscast.com

More than 800 vulnerable Australians are “in limbo” as the mental health care provider they rely on for support faces closure.

Momentum Mental Health provides coaching, group sessions, bulk-billed psychological therapies, and additional support to many residents in Toowoomba and nearby areas.

With a waitlist of more than 200 people, Momentum’s services are in high demand.

Shirley-Anne Gardiner (centre) with other Momentum Mental Health staff members.
Momentum Mental Health staff supported more than 800 clients last year.(Supplied)

To establish the hub, PHN is engaging current providers to offer services through an open market tender, which allows any existing providers to apply.

The providers that are chosen to deliver services through the hub will remain funded by the PHN.

Those that are not chosen and operate outside the hub “may need to seek alternative funding”, according to a PHN press release.

Under this new model, all of Momentum’s current PHN funding would be redirected to the hub.

“We would be left with a small amount of Queensland Health funding and $200,000 in fundraising a year,” Gardiner said.

“But we can’t financially survive. We would have to shut because we can’t fundraise $800,000 a year. It’s not sustainable.”

Momentum’s only avenue to receive ongoing PHN funding is if its application to deliver services through the hub is successful.

Successful applicants were supposed to be notified in June, but the number of applications forced PHN to push the date back to late July.

PHN told 9news it will not provide comment until the tender process is finalised.

Momentum and other existing providers are currently operating on short-term funding provided by the PHN to “support safe client transitions”.

That funding has already been extended once and will run out at the end of the year.

If Momentum does not obtain continuous funding from the PHN as a hub provider or through other avenues by then, Gardiner anticipates it may have to shut down.

“It’s heartbreaking for us and we’re really worried about our clients,” she said.

“We have people who have suicidal ideation, we have people with chronic mental health conditions, we have people that suffer from social anxiety or agoraphobia.

“We have one woman who didn’t leave her house for 20 years before she came to Momentum.”

Being forced to change mental health care providers can be challenging for vulnerable Australians, especially those who have already built trust with a specific provider.

Gardiner fears that some clients will struggle with the transition to a new hub and some could fall through the cracks.

In the past, several clients have experienced mental health crises during the one week Momentum closes over Christmas.

Some have even had to go into acute mental health care because they cannot access the support they rely on.

Gardiner fears that if Momentum is forced to close, some clients who already experience life-threatening mental health concerns could suffer.

“If we’re not around [or] and we can’t work alongside them, we’re going to see people make some stupid choices because we’re not there to help them,” she said.

These are the most miserable countries in the world

For now, Momentum’s staff and clients are living “in limbo” waiting for the PHN to announce the outcome of the hub tender.

If Momentum is not successful, staff will have to begin the process of looking for new jobs and clients will need to prepare to transition to new support services.

It’s a scary prospect and one Gardiner wishes she didn’t have to consider.

She’s started a Change.org petition to secure ongoing funding so Momentum can continue providing vital services many Toowoomba locals rely on.

“There’s enough work for an integrated mental health hub and us. It shouldn’t be us or them.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Climate Case Loss: Torres Strait Islander Uncles Fail in Lawsuit Against Australian Government Over Negligence

Pabai Pabai and Paul Kabai have faced defeat in their significant legal…
Some Australians are getting Wegovy and Mounjaro online without ever having to meet a medical professional face-to-face.

Aussies Can Now Buy Weight Loss Drugs Online More Easily, But Experts Urge for Stricter Regulations

Fill out a questionnaire, send a few photos, answer a call from…

Australian Prime Minister Addresses Incident Involving Journalists in Beijing, Citing China’s Distinct System

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says China has a “different system” when dealing…

Call for PM to Strengthen Efforts for Release of Australian Yang Hengjun from Xi Jinping’s Custody

A friend of detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun has called on Anthony…

Additional Families to Be Notified Following New Developments Regarding Accused Childcare Worker

This article contains reference to child abuse. Four additional Melbourne childcare centres…
Europe is sweltering under a deadly heat dome, triggering wildfires across Turkey (pictured) and Greece

Popular Australian Tour Company Cancels Europe Trips for Surprising Reason

One of Australia’s top travel companies has canceled some European tours during…
Scientists reported that in Hawaii, Kilauea has paused its lava fountains only to build up pressure again, with a new eruption episode expected between July 17 and 20.

Experts on heightened alert as several volcanoes within the “Pacific Ring of Fire” awaken simultaneously

Several volcanoes located within the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ are exhibiting heightened…
Generic scenes of young professional workers in suits in the CBD

Aussie Group Facing ‘Alarming’ Exploitation by Unethical Employers

A significant number of young employees are facing exploitation by their employers…
Sleep apnea detection comes to Apple Watch for Australians

Apple Watch Now Detects Sleep Apnea for Users in Australia

Your smartwatch is becoming more advanced with Apple introducing sleep apnea alerts…
Bruce Lehrmann (right) leaves the Magistrates Court in Toowoomba, Queensland, June 17, 2024. Mr Lehrmann is charged with two counts of rape. Picture: Dan Peled

Lehrmann Claims He Was Followed by a Daily Mail Journalist

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann’s request for an interim restraining order against…
An SUV drove through the window of the Fendi store at the intersection of Elizabeth and Market Street at 3.45am today.

Search Underway for Thieves Behind Sydney Luxury Handbag Heist

A luxury store has been ram-raided in Sydney’s CBD, with thousands of…

Outback Murderer Bradley Murdoch Passes Away 24 Years Post Peter Falconio’s Death

A notorious backpacker murderer has died without revealing where he put the…