Children's health and wellbeing in Western NSW

About the Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub

Finding the right support for your child’s mental health and well-being can be tough. That’s where the Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub (Kids Hub) comes in. 

This service in Orange and Bathurst provides free, accessible and effective mental health and well-being support to children aged under 12 years and their families.

The Kids Hub is a welcoming and culturally safe space, open to all families, including those from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other culturally diverse communities.  The service is also accessible for children with different communication or sensory needs.  Supports may be provided either at the Kids Hub or in another location, depending on availability and the needs of the individuals.

The Kids Hub team work closely with families to:

• Understand the challenges they are facing
• Provide short to medium term support, advice and information, tailored to meet their needs
• Offer a range of health and wellbeing services – all in one place.

The Kids Hub team offer a wide range of flexible services, including:

• Early support - such as whole-child assessments, individual and group treatment options for children with emotional, behavioural or social concerns.
• Parent & carer support - such as resources, practical advice and guidance to help parents or carers support their child, as well as support for parents who need someone to talk to about caring for kids.
• Connections with other services - such as linking families with schools, community groups and healthcare providers to meet their needs.

Eligibility Criteria

The free Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub in Orange and Bathurst is for children aged under 12 years with mild to moderate emotional, social or behavioural challenges, and their families.  The service provides care and support for:

• Children who are:
  • feeling anxious, sad or overwhelmed
  • struggling with friendships or social situations
  • avoiding or feeling anxious about school
  • having difficulty managing their emotions or behaviours
  • falling behind in age-appropriate skills or milestones.
• Parents and carers who are:
  • unsure how to provide support for their child
  • feeling emotionally overwhelmed
  • waiting on a diagnosis (e.g. ADHD, Autism) and need support for their child in the meantime.

Children and families who are not eligible for this service

The Kids Hub is an important service in our community, but it is not able to provide support for everyone. The Kids Hub is not able to provide services for children or families:

• who are eligible for or receiving support from another provider.
• when a care package is already in place for their needs.
• when the child's emotional, social or behavioural issues are considered more than moderate (i.e. severe or very complex).
• if there is serious risk or crisis support is needed.
• requesting medicolegal assessments or court reports.
• looking for support outside of the Orange or Bathurst areas.

Alternative supports will be recommended for families who are not eligible for services offered by the Kids Hub.  The Kids Hub team will also assist with further referrals to these services, where possible.

Referrals to the Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub

Parents or carers can contact the hub directly to talk to our team about their concerns.

No diagnosis or Mental Health Treatment Plan required.

Referrals are also welcome from Health Professionals and services working with children and families in the Orange and Bathurst areas, using our referral form for Health Professionals.