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Mind Australia and The Haven Foundation will provide housing and support for up to 28 people experiencing mental health challenges in Castlemaine and Warrnambool.

The two new social housing developments are being delivered in partnership with Homes Victoria as part of the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, with construction commencing soon. Once built, these homes will offer high quality, long-term housing with support so that residents can work on their mental health recovery and live life to the fullest.

These Haven residences each feature 14 one-bedroom self-contained homes, each with a main bedroom, built-in wardrobe, bathroom, kitchen and eating area, European laundry, lounge room and outdoor courtyard or balcony within a multi-unit property.

These residences will also include shared indoor and outdoor community living and lounge areas, kitchen, meeting spaces and overnight facilities on-site for Mind Australia’s specialist support staff.

This integrated social housing and support service is a partnership between Mind and community housing provider The Haven Foundation – a subsidiary of Mind.

Mark Heeney, Mind Executive Director of Housing Strategy, said the Haven model provides life-changing opportunities for people experiencing mental health challenges, as well as their families, carers, kin and supporters.

“Some Haven residents have lived with their parents all their life and need to find an alternative situation as their parents become aged. Other Haven residents have previously tried to live independently and found that they require a greater level of support to manage their day-to-day needs,” he said.

“Mind provides these supports to help residents maintain their daily routine, gain confidence and connection with others, and ultimately to help improve their wellbeing.

“Haven Castlemaine and Haven Warrnambool will be valuable additions to their respective communities, and they will provide much-needed housing and support opportunities for people experiencing mental health challenges.”

Mind provides these supports to help residents maintain their daily routine, gain confidence and connection with others, and ultimately to help improve their wellbeing
- Mark Heeney, Executive Director Housing Strategy, Mind Australia

Mind’s qualified and experienced staff assist Haven residents with activities of daily living and support them to achieve their recovery goals, which is funded by their NDIS packages. Mind staff also connect residents with relevant support services within the community as appropriate to each person’s unique needs.

These residences will also generate approximately 10 ongoing jobs for mental health sector workers in regional Victoria. They are also expected to generate jobs for more than 100 local sub-contractors and suppliers.

There are currently 11 Haven residences in Victoria located in Frankston (Wattle), South Yarra, Highton, Epping, Laverton, Mooroopna, Drouin, Ballarat, Bendigo, Pakenham and Horsham.

There are a further 12 residences under construction or planned in Kilmore, Colac, Frankston (Banksia), Corio, Sunbury, Seymour, Moe, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Wonthaggi, Torquay and Traralgon.

Construction is also about to commence at the first Haven residence in South Australia, and the New South Wales government has committed to building the first three Haven residences in the state – with the first to be built on the Central Coast.

Construction is expected to be completed at both Haven Castlemaine and Haven Warrnambool in early 2026.

If this article raises concerns for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders can also call 13 YARN (13 92 76) a 24/7 national crisis support telephone service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 
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