A new free mental health service for children aged up to 12 will open in Penrith in early 2027, with a site now selected opposite Nepean Hospital.
The Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub will provide support for children experiencing mild to moderate developmental, emotional, relational or behavioural challenges, as well as assistance for their families and carers.
No referral, formal diagnosis or Mental Health Treatment Plan will be required to access the service.
Hub to Serve Western Sydney and Blue Mountains Region
The Penrith facility will support families across Penrith, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Lithgow local government areas.
It will be located near Nepean Hospital and other specialist health services, including the recently opened Nepean Adolescent Mental Health Unit.
Refurbishment of the selected site is expected to begin ahead of the planned early 2027 opening.
Free Care Without a Referral
The Kids Hub model is designed to provide early mental health and wellbeing support before children require more intensive or hospital-based treatment.
Services can include:
- Initial mental health and developmental assessments
- Psychological and allied health support
- Care coordination
- Parenting and family support
- Treatments and therapies
- Links to paediatricians, psychiatrists and other specialist services
Care will be delivered by a multidisciplinary team including mental health clinicians, allied health professionals and care navigators.
Families will be able to contact the service directly, although walk-in availability can vary between individual Kids Hubs.
Fourth Kids Hub in NSW
Penrith will be the fourth Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub in NSW, following services in the Central Coast, Orange and Illawarra regions.
The four hubs are being delivered through a $50.8 million joint investment by the Australian and NSW governments, with each contributing $25.4 million.
The existing Kids Hubs have delivered more than 17,000 appointments and support sessions since services began operating, according to NSW Government figures.
Broader Mental Health Network Expands
The Penrith Kids Hub sits alongside the broader Medicare Mental Health Centre network for adults and older young people.
As of October 2026, 21 Medicare Mental Health Centres were operating across NSW, having delivered more than 280,000 free appointments and support sessions.
The existing Penrith Medicare Mental Health Centre has accounted for almost 40,000 appointments and support sessions.
Medicare Mental Health Centres are free and generally do not require a referral or appointment.
Kids Hubs Are Not Crisis Services
Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs are intended primarily for early intervention and ongoing support and are not emergency or crisis services.
Families needing information about Kids Hubs or other local mental health services can contact Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212.
For urgent mental health support in NSW, the Mental Health Line operates 24 hours a day on 1800 011 511. In a life-threatening emergency, Triple Zero (000) should be contacted.
The Penrith facility is now moving into the refurbishment stage, with further operational details expected closer to its opening in early 2027.
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