PHN announces preferred tenderer for Toowoomba Mental Health Hub

Following an 18-month co-design and competitive tender process, Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN (the PHN) is pleased to announce the Wellways Consortium as the preferred tenderer for the new Toowoomba Integrated Mental Health Hub.

The consortium, which includes Wellways, Each, Lumsden Psychology, QPASTT, and Goondir, will deliver the new hub, which will provide and integrate mental health services, with a particular focus on moderate to severe mental ill health.

PHN CEO, Ms Lucille Chalmers, said that final contract negotiations were underway with the preferred tenderer, and first referrals were expected from October, 2025.

“We are absolutely delighted that local service providers, with a strong reputation in the Toowoomba community, have been successful in this instance,” Ms Chalmers said.

“The consortium demonstrated they were able to provide the full spectrum of clinical and peer support services, and were very clear on their process for clinical oversight, integration of services, and ability to respond to local needs, which have been informed through community codesign for the hub.

“This included how they would connect into the acute services provided by Darling Downs Health.”

Ms Chalmers said that the integrated hub model was a significant change from the way services were previously delivered, which were often not coordinated and required a client to self-navigate through a very complex system of providers.

“In late 2023, we undertook a deep review of the way we were providing services across our region,” Ms Chalmers said.

“We had not been seeing significant changes in mental health outcomes within our community, so we knew we needed to revise our approach,” Ms Chalmers said.

“The PHN only has around 10 percent of the mental health budget for the region, and we have to ensure every dollar is making an impact.

“In May 2024, we briefed the mental health services sector on the proposed way forward, inviting them to participate in the codesign of the new model.

“From the initial briefing, the process included program review, sector engagement and codesign, culminating in the open tender in March 2025.

“The codesign highlighted a number of requirements including a face-to-face team that is welcoming and supportive, provision of relevant and accessible information and support pathways, facilitation of pathways to adjacent services (such as domestic and family violence) and being available for people who may have diverse needs.

“Tenders, based on the codesigned specifications, opened in March 2025 and closed in May.”

Ms Chalmers said now the tender process was close to completion, next steps will commence.

“These include finalising a hub location (from a short list) and finalising the model with the codesign partners.”

Ms Chalmers said existing service providers have been provided funding until the end of the year, which should see most of their clients complete their program.

“Any client who requires services after this period will be closely supported to transition to the new service.

“Services that are outside the hub, such as headspace, Youth Enhanced Services, and Universal Aftercare (suicide support) will continue to be funded, and will be closely connected to the new model.”

Ms Chalmers said the PHN was very conscious that this was a different way of operating and may take some time to bed down.

“We will be monitoring the service very closely and making adjustments as required to make sure it is meeting the needs of the people using it.

“We take heart from the success of other innovative models in our region, such as the Medicare Mental Health Centres in Ipswich and Kingaroy, and now Warwick, as well as Indigenous Wellness Connect in Goondiwindi.

“Change is never comfortable, and we need to remain focussed on providing better mental health outcomes for the people of Toowoomba,” Ms Chalmers said.

The Toowoomba Mental Health Hub has been made possible through funding from the Australian Government’s PHN Program.