<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 800 vulnerable Australians are "in limbo" as the mental health care provider they rely on for support faces closure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Momentum Mental Health offers coaching, group programs, bulk-billed psychological therapies and other support to hundreds of locals in Toowoomba and its surrounds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With a waitlist of more than 200 people, Momentum's services are in high demand.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/experts-say-july-cash-rate-cut-in-the-bag/8bba4307-c97d-441d-90e3-b7146620815f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Experts say July cash rate cut 'in the bag'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But a recent redistribution of mental health funding has seen the establishment of a $3.6 million integrated mental health hub instead.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network (PHN) manages all aspects of primary health care in the region, including mental health, and tailor services to meet community needs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last year, the PHN announced plans for the new hub which would offer a range of mental health services, including clinical care and psychosocial support, in one location.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mental-health-toowoomba-momentum-closure-public-health-network-funding/b8a8889b-63de-4dec-ac43-ab6bdc65d3a1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The hub would be run by one or more existing providers that would work individually or in partnership to provide these vital services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Initially, the Momentum team were excited by the prospect.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We love the idea of an integrated hub if it works with us to support people in our community," chief executive Shirley-Anne Gardiner told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To create the hub, PHN is commissioning existing providers to deliver services through via an open market tender, meaning any existing providers could apply.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The providers that are chosen to deliver services through the hub will remain funded by the PHN.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those that are not chosen and operate outside the hub "may need to seek alternative funding", according to a PHN press release.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under this new model, all of Momentum's current PHN funding would be redirected to the hub.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We would be left with a small amount of Queensland Health funding and $200,000 in fundraising a year," Gardiner said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But we can't financially survive. We would have to shut because we can't fundraise $800,000 a year. It's not sustainable."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bomb-cyclone-system-moves-away-from-east-coast/c3846d1b-6162-4229-bd37-faddeb8e26a5" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Bomb cyclone' system moves away from east coast</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Momentum's only avenue to receive ongoing PHN funding is if its application to deliver services through the hub is successful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Successful applicants were supposed to be notified in June, but the number of applications forced PHN to push the date back to late July.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>PHN told 9news it will not provide comment until the tender process is finalised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Momentum and other existing providers are currently operating on short-term funding provided by the PHN to "support safe client transitions".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That funding has already been extended once and will run out at the end of the year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If Momentum has not secured ongoing funding either from the PHN as a hub provider or through alternative channel by then, Gardiner expects it will have to close its doors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's heartbreaking for us and we're really worried about our clients," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have one woman who didn't leave her house for 20 years before she came to Momentum."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/joshua-brown-call-for-unified-response-to-alleged-childcare-sexual-assaults/1992d57c-176b-4eda-b2d4-cc1fbeb692e7" target="_blank"><strong><span>Call for national response to alleged childcare sexual assaults</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ZDJ-taIKaDppO5y5sgYbaKjukPI=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2025%2F01%2F668537%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gardiner fears that some clients will struggle with the transition to a new hub and some could fall through the cracks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the past, several clients have experienced mental health crises during the one week Momentum closes over Christmas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some have even had to go into acute mental health care because they cannot access the support they rely on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gardiner fears that if Momentum is forced to close, some clients who already experience life-threatening mental health concerns could suffer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/entertainment/michael-madsen-reservoir-dogs-and-kill-bill-star-dies-at-67/40317a51-1c15-4af7-bd39-8c4e4da28d15" target="_blank"><strong><span>Michael Madsen, 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' star, dies at 67</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2024/03/13/11/01/most-miserable-countries-2024-australia-number-six-for-poor-mental-health"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/3uIXO1ITYZdoyEk3tlbnrWDZXiE=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F7a6482c0-b83d-46d7-a817-f9831e2e529f" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/3uIXO1ITYZdoyEk3tlbnrWDZXiE=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F7a6482c0-b83d-46d7-a817-f9831e2e529f 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/USV72B5HEyWDxuFOuzOAkkvl4_8=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F7a6482c0-b83d-46d7-a817-f9831e2e529f 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">These are the most miserable countries in the world</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2024/03/13/11/01/most-miserable-countries-2024-australia-number-six-for-poor-mental-health">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For now, Momentum's staff and clients are living "in limbo" waiting for the PHN to announce the outcome of the hub tender.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's a scary prospect and one Gardiner wishes she didn't have to consider.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She's started a </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/momentum-matters-help-us-keep-the-doors-open?source_location=search" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Change.org petition"><span>Change.org petition</span></a><span> to secure ongoing funding so Momentum can continue providing vital services many Toowoomba locals rely on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's enough work for an integrated mental health hub and us. It shouldn't be us or them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>