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

3. Access and Engagement with Centres
Characteristics
headspace Clients
12-25
Australian Youth Population
12-25
N % % N
K10 Low 4,390 10.9 36.4 1,739
Moderate 5,968 14.8 29.2 1,395
High 10,942 27.2 19.5 931
Very high 18,900 47.0 14.9 709
Note: NEA = No equivalent available
Data Source: Authors calculations from hCSA and other data sources. The majority of population level statistics have
been derived from the 2011 Australian Census. Distributions of K10 scores are from survey data collected for this
evaluation.
Age and gender
Just over half of the young people using headspace services in the 2013/14 financial year were aged
between 12-17 years, and just under half were aged 18-25 years. As shown in Table 3.2, a very small
number fell outside of the target age group (0.6%). headspace staff reported that for the older cohort,
this was most likely to be clients not exiting as soon as they reached 26 years, but rather being
transitioned as appropriate to adult services. This transition was described as a slow process for
some older clients with entrenched problems and high needs. The slow transition of older clients may
also be a result of limited other appropriate, available services in the local area.
Table 3.2 headspace clients by age group, 2013/14 financial year
Age Number Percentage
25 247 0.5
Total 45,195 100
Source: Authors calculations from hCSA data.
The highest proportion of headspace clients were 16 years, with 19 out of every 1,000 of this age
group across Australia having sought treatment from a headspace centre in the 2013/14 financial
year (Figure 3.2). This was closely followed by young people aged 15 and 17 years. These age
groups represent an important period for young people, where social and vocational pressures can
be many as they move towards the final years of high school.
Figure 3.2 Number of headspace clients per 1,000 population by age, 2013/14
Note: Population are those young people that received a headspace service within the 2013/14 financial year.
Source: Authors calculations from hCSA data and ABS 2011 Census tables.
headspace services were accessed by more females than males in the 2013/14 financial year.
Almost two-thirds of 12-17 year olds who accessed headspace services were female (65.5%).
Similarly, 59.2% of 18-25 year olds were female. The higher service use by females is consistent with
other mental health programs. Approximately two-thirds (66.7%) of people who accessed the Access
to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program in 2012/13 were female. As a funding stream for
Social Policy Research Centre 2015
headspace Evaluation Final Report
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