Free mental health services in Cardinia Shire

Looking for mental health support that doesn't cost anything? If you live in Cardinia Shire, in towns such as Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield, Emerald and Cockatoo, you have more options than many people realise, from 24/7 phone lines to local clinics you can walk into without a referral.

This guide brings the main free services for Cardinia Shire residents together, plus low-cost options for when free support isn't the right fit. We checked each service on its official website, but details change, so confirm before you go.

If you need help right now

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 (Triple Zero) for police, ambulance or fire. The nearest emergency department is at Casey Hospital, 62-70 Kangan Drive, Berwick, which is open 24 hours.

These free services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14. Crisis support and suicide prevention by phone, text (0477 13 11 14) or online chat. lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636. Free counselling by phone or webchat for anyone in Australia. beyondblue.org.au
• 13YARN: 13 92 76. Crisis support from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters. 13yarn.org.au
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800. Free, confidential counselling for young people aged 5 to 25, by phone or webchat. kidshelpline.com.au
• NURSE-ON-CALL: 1800 022 222. Health advice from a registered nurse in Victoria, any time. healthdirect.gov.au

More crisis and specialist lines, including support for LGBTIQA+ people, perinatal mental health and eating disorders, are on our emergency contacts page.

ATEC's free counselling clinic at Fernlea

If you live in Cardinia Shire, you can have 6 free counselling sessions a year at our Community Mental Health Access Clinic at Fernlea Community House, 356-358 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, Emerald.

• For Cardinia Shire residents only, including towns such as Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield and Emerald
• 50-minute sessions, in person, on Thursdays and Fridays between 9:30am and 3pm
• No GP referral or mental health care plan needed
• With our counsellors and provisional psychologists, who are supervised by experienced psychologists

Counselling can help with stress, anxiety and overwhelm, low mood, grief and loss, and relationship and family concerns. If you live outside Cardinia Shire, the free clinic isn't available to you, but the other services in this guide may suit. See free counselling for Cardinia Shire residents to check eligibility and book a time.

Medicare Mental Health and Head to Health clinics

Medicare Mental Health is a free national service. Call 1800 595 212 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, except public holidays) to talk with a trained professional who can listen, assess what you need and connect you with local services. Family members, friends and carers can call too. It is not a crisis line.

In Victoria, Medicare Mental Health includes Head to Health clinics. Two are close to Cardinia Shire:

• Lynbrook Hub: Lynbrook Community Centre, 2 Harris Street, Lynbrook
• Officer/Pakenham Hub: Officer Medical Centre, Arena Shopping Centre, T24/4 Cardinia Road, Officer

Support at Head to Health clinics is free, and you don't need an appointment, a GP referral or a mental health treatment plan. You can walk in, or call 1800 595 212 first. Find out more at medicarementalhealth.gov.au.

Free support for young people: headspace

headspace offers free, confidential support for young people aged 12 to 25 and their families. It covers mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study. Two centres are close to Cardinia Shire:

• headspace Narre Warren: Suite 1, 66 Victor Crescent, Narre Warren
• headspace Pakenham: corner of Main Street and McGregor Road, Pakenham

Opening hours and how to book are on the headspace Narre Warren and headspace Pakenham pages.

Free support for adults in Cardinia Shire

The Cardinia Mental Health and Wellbeing Local is a free Victorian service for people aged 26 and over. You don't need a GP referral, a Medicare card or a mental health care plan. It runs at 16 Station Street, Pakenham, and on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7-17 McBride Street, Cockatoo, with phone and telehealth support as well. Call (03) 5929 2600, or see the Better Health Channel for details.

Low-cost counselling if free options don't fit

Free services can have waiting lists or eligibility rules. Our low-cost online counselling is $49.95 for a 50-minute Zoom session with a supervised provisional psychologist. It is open to anyone in Australia and you don't need a referral.

If you'd prefer a counsellor in Berwick or online, you can compare all our options on the counselling page, including individual counselling and family therapy. These sessions are Bupa claimable, but there is no Medicare rebate for them.

Seeing your GP: Mental Health Treatment Plan

If you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, your GP may prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan. With a plan and a referral, you can claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions each calendar year with eligible mental health professionals, such as psychologists.

A few things to know:

• Ask for a longer appointment when you book, so there is time to talk.
• Since 1 November 2025, the plan needs to come from your usual GP or the practice where you are registered with MyMedicare.
• A rebate isn't always the full fee. Ask the practitioner whether they bulk bill or what the gap will be.

Read more on healthdirect.

Free chair yoga on Wednesdays

Gentle movement and company may help too. We're an exclusive provider for the City of Casey's Chair Yoga Program. Free chair yoga runs on Wednesdays, sponsored by the City of Casey and open to all members of the community.

• Rossmoyne Family and Community Centre, 19 Beldale Court, Berwick VIC 3806
• Term 4: 7 October to 9 December, 4:30pm to 5:15pm
• Bookings required

Classes are seated or use a chair for balance, with options for every movement and no hands-on adjustments. Our lead instructor, Feren, has helped hundreds of locals find accessible movement and fun. See free chair yoga in Berwick to book. Chair yoga is group exercise, not therapy, so check with your doctor if you're unsure whether it suits you.

Worried about someone close to you? Our post on why Mental Health First Aid training matters explains how to notice when someone is struggling and help them find support.

Free mental health services FAQs

Do I need a referral to get free mental health support in Cardinia Shire?

Often not. Head to Health clinics, headspace, the Cardinia Mental Health and Wellbeing Local and ATEC's free Fernlea clinic don't need a GP referral. You need a GP to get a Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare rebates.

Who can use ATEC's free counselling clinic?

Only people who live in Cardinia Shire. The free clinic at Fernlea Community House in Emerald is for Cardinia Shire residents only. If you live elsewhere, including Berwick and the rest of the City of Casey, you can use Head to Health, headspace (ages 12 to 25) or our $49.95 low-cost online counselling.

Is there free mental health support for young people in Cardinia Shire?

Yes. headspace Narre Warren and headspace Pakenham offer free support for people aged 12 to 25. Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) offers free counselling for ages 5 to 25, 24 hours a day.

Who can I call for mental health support at night or on weekends?

Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), 13YARN (13 92 76) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) all answer 24 hours a day. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Is ATEC a crisis service?

No. If you or someone else is in danger, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department. For 24/7 crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Not sure where to start?

Email us at enquiries@atec.vic.edu.au and we'll point you towards an option that fits. If you need help urgently, please use the numbers at the top of this page.