Is headspace making a difference to young people’s lives?

Appendix B
Competing and complementary services
In focussing on Stage One of the Centre Allocation Model (that is, the population modelling
step), this evaluation has not had access to information underpinning Stages Two and Three of
the centre allocation process used by the Commonwealth. That is, the evaluation which follows
has not considered competing and complementary services in all SA3s and SA4s across
Australia.
In any given region or area within which the Department calls for tender from lead agencies
expressing an interest in operating a headspace centre, the Department must make itself
aware of all other providers of similar services within a reasonable distance of the proposed
new headspace site. These service providers can include such entities as community mental
health services, private psychologists, General Practitioner clinics, and state-run child and
adolescent mental health services. This is part of the “human intelligence” component of the
Department’s review of candidate areas for headspace sites, and will influence the choice
of location for new centres in addition to the population modelling approach used in this
evaluation document. The competition for services is an important element to consider when
considering headspace centre allocation, and the results of the evaluation which follow should
be considered in this light.
Access to a headspace centre
To ensure that the analysis aligned with the current model of geography-based allocation, young
people were considered to have access to headspace if they lived within an area which contained a
headspace centre. For those living in the capital cities, the area was defined by SA4 boundaries. For
young people living in other areas, the area was defined by SA3 boundaries. These boundaries are
explained below.
It is important to note that the definition of client access plays a major role in allocation of centres
and in the interpretation of the ultimate service coverage of the headspace centre model. An analysis
of the effects of different definitions of client access on the pattern of future centre expansion and
service capacity of headspace as an organisation is provided later in this appendix.
Australian Statistical Geography Standard
In Australia, the ABS provides the main administrative geographic boundaries in the form of the
Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS), which was introduced in 2011 to coincide with the
Census. The ASGS divides Australian states and territories into geographic regions. This hierarchy
of geographies aggregate small areas into larger areas. The main structure comprises of Mesh
Blocks, which are the smallest area classification, and these are aggregated to form statistical areas
of increasing size. Mesh Blocks are considered to be building blocks, which are primarily designed
based on data collection requirements. Statistical Area Level 1s (SA1), which are built from Mesh
Blocks, contain populations between 200 and 500 persons. Whole SA1s are further aggregated
to form Statistical Area Level 2, with populations in the range of 3,000 – 25,000 persons. These
units are again aggregated to SA3s, which attempt to provide a standardised regional division
across Australia. As a result, there is substantial variation in the size of SA3s. While these areas
are designed to have populations of approximately 30,000 – 130,000, there are a number of SA3s
that fall outside of this range. SA4s form the next level on the hierarchy and contain populations
of 100,000 – 500,000 persons. SA4s have been designed to replace the previous Labour Force
Regions (ABS, 2011). A shift in each level of the hierarchy reflects a substantial shift in both
geographic area and population size.
National coverage of headspace under the current centre allocation model
For the purposes of the evaluation of expanding headspace under the current centre allocation
model, national coverage was defined as:
All 12 – 25 year olds in Australia living in an area which contains a headspace centre. That is,
national coverage was defined as a headspace centre being located in each SA4 within capital cities
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