The purpose-built unit, delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $700M Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program, will provide specialist mental healthcare to young people aged 12-17 years in the Penrith and Blue Mountains region.
The unit’s design is the result of thoughtful collaboration with young people, their families, and carers, ensuring the environment is able to provide the best care to meet their unique needs. It features:
• 10 single bedrooms with ensuites.
• Light-filled communal areas and secure outdoor courtyards.
• Specialized clinical spaces, including a sensory room and a media room.
• Learning and recreational spaces to help young people maintain their routine.
• A dedicated carer’s suite, recognizing the vital role families play in recovery.
The new unit is expected to be operational by mid-2026, with final preparations underway to ensure the facility and staff are equipped and ready to support patient care.
The NSW Government is investing in mental health services across the state to ensure that everyone in NSW has access to life-saving support.
Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said: “This is more than just new beds in a hospital – it is a dedicated recovery space for young people in their most vulnerable moments. It’s so important to have a dedicated and supportive space for young people and their families to access specialised, age-appropriate mental health care that is tailored to their needs.
“The new Nepean Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit will bring care closer to home for people in the Nepean and Blue Mountains regions and will strengthen the network of youth focused mental health services for Western Sydney.”
Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said she is grateful that families in Penrith and the Nepean Blue Mountains region will soon have access to specialist care close to home.
“Designed in collaboration with young people who know what a healing environment looks like, the Unit offers tailored spaces and programs that foster comfort, connection and recovery,” she said.
