A prominent Tasmanian mental health advocacy organisation is throwing its support behind St Lukes' proposal for a wellness hub in Devonport, reinforcing the urgent need for more access to preventative health programs across the state’s North-West.
Leading Tasmanian not-for-profit St Lukes, in partnership with Devonport City Council, is seeking $1 million in Federal Government funding to construct the facility, which aims to foster a community culture of movement, nutrition, and connection.
Mental health and suicide prevention advocacy organisation, SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, is backing the proposal, welcoming its potential to improve mental health and wellbeing across the region.
Founder Mitch McPherson said the proposal highlighted the critical role of accessible community spaces in reducing social isolation and promoting positive health choices.
"Initiatives such as St Lukes' wellness hub have the power to bring people together in ways that support both their physical and mental health, potentially helping countless people on their wellbeing journeys," Mr McPherson said.
“St Lukes has been a key component and entirely instrumental in making Mental Health First Aid training available to the Tasmanian community, allowing the SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY team to use their wellness hubs in Hobart and Launceston, entirely free of charge.
“Providing a safe, comfortable, and private environment is extremely important to conducting successful training and to ensure the wellbeing of all participants. This is exactly what the St Lukes hubs encompass.”
In 2021, 41 per cent of the population in Devonport reported having a long-term health condition – this was 1.6 per cent higher than Tasmania and 5.3 per cent higher than Australia as a whole.
With one in five Tasmanians also living with mental health issues, St Lukes CEO Paul Lupo emphasised the urgency of action.
"The backing from our community partners, including SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, reinforces what we already know – that there is a deep need for preventative health initiatives in North-West Tasmania," Mr Lupo said.
"Our Devonport wellness hub will fill a gap and provide a non-intimidating entry point for people who want to take charge of their health, but don't know where to start.”
St Lukes Event and Partnership Manager, Nikki Long, said the wellness hub model delivered the key ingredients for better health and wellness outcomes, without the need for medical intervention.
“Our wellness hubs are welcoming spaces that bring together like-minded individuals and organisations to offer a diverse range of preventative health and wellbeing programs for the community that encourage movement, nutrition and connection,” Ms Long said.
“We’ve experienced huge demand since opening our first two hubs in Hobart and Launceston, which have seen 18,954 Tasmanians attending events and programs since they opened.”
Mr Lupo said having the support of organisations like SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY reinforced the sentiment of the organisation’s members, with 90 per cent supporting the wellness hub proposal for the North-West.
“With strong support at community level, St Lukes and Devonport City Council are urging the Federal Government to recognise the opportunity for investment in Tasmania’s long-term health future,” Mr Lupo said.
The proposed wellness hub would be located within the Devonport Oval Precinct, with St Lukes responsible for its operation, ensuring alignment with Devonport City Council’s Living Well Devonport Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
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Contact: Jacquie Ray, Timmins Ray Public Relations – 0429 683 779 | jacquie@timminsray.com.au