New Medicare Mental Health Centre opens on the northern Gold Coast

Located at 29 Dixon Drive, Pimpama, the Centre was officially opened on Thursday 27 August by The Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, who was joined by Senator the Hon Murray Watt and Mr Rowan Holzberger MP, Member for Forde.

Commissioned by Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) and operated by Open Minds, the Centre provides free, confidential, walk-in mental health support for people who may be experiencing distress or simply having a difficult time.

People can access the service without a referral, appointment or mental health treatment plan, with support tailored to each person’s needs.

The multidisciplinary team includes trained mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, alcohol and other drug counsellors and peer workers.

GCPHN CEO Angi Bissell said the new Centre provides an important local access point for people living in one of the Gold Coast’s fastest-growing areas.

“For people living on the northern Gold Coast, this Centre provides a welcoming place to seek mental health and wellbeing support when they need it,” Ms Bissell said.

“It is free, accessible and designed around the needs of the local community, so people can get support close to home without needing a referral or appointment.”

The Centre has been shaped through an extensive community co-design process undertaken by Open Minds between September 2025 and February 2026, which explored the needs and experiences of people living across the northern Gold Coast.

“From the beginning, this Centre has been shaped by the community, with the community and for the community. Through co-design, we listened to what people told us about their experiences of seeking support, and we’ve worked hard to create a service that is welcoming, accessible and connected,” Open Minds CEO Karen Hale-Robertson said.

The co-design process was aligned with the Gold Coast Joint Regional Plan for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Alcohol and Other Drug Services 2025-2028 and focused on ensuring the Centre operates as part of a connected local health and wellbeing system, rather than as a standalone service.

“What makes this Centre particularly valuable is that it has been designed with the community and as part of the broader local health system,” Ms Bissell said.

“We listened to what people told us they need and worked with our partners to create stronger connections between services, making it easier for people to navigate the support available to them.”

The Centre has established connections with Gold Coast Health, primary care and community organisations, including Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast and Peachtree Perinatal.

A collaboration agreement with Gold Coast Health was also established ahead of service delivery, including an allocated Gold Coast Health Nurse Practitioner to support communication, coordination and continuity of care between services.

“Mental health care doesn’t happen in isolation. The strength of this Centre is in the connections around it,” Ms Bissell said.

“By working closely with local partners and service providers, primary care, and other community organisations, we can help people connect with the support that is right for them and strengthen the local mental health and wellbeing system.”

The Northern Gold Coast Medicare Mental Health Centre is open to anyone who needs mental health and wellbeing support – simply walk in when support is needed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gold Coast Primary Health Network (@gcphn)

Northern Gold Coast Medicare Mental Health Centre

Location: 29 Dixon Drive, Pimpama

Opening hours:

Monday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Tuesday: 7:00am – 06:00pm
Wednesday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Thursday: 7:00am – 06:00pm
Friday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: Closed

Enquiries: Call 07 5348 9181