THE new outer east headspace centre is just days from completion, with youth from the eastern suburbs expected to be able to use the health centre by the start of next month.
The final stage of the headspace set-up was expected to be completed within the next week, said Kristin Michaels, the Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local chief executive, which is opening the facility.
Building works were finished on the front area — reception and open space — last week, and the clinical rooms were also almost complete.
The e centre will provide medical, mental health, employment and training, and alcohol and drugs services for young people.
EMML will also have a work space at the Knox Ozone, which will be the third stage of the building project.
The youth mental health hub was meant to open late last year, but construction and planning delays pushed back the project over Christmas.
Staff are expected to begin working at the site this week to set up their work space.
Ms Michaels said every headspace nationwide was different and the outer east youth reference committee had helped develop plans for the new centre.
It will comprise consulting and counselling rooms, play space with a TV or PlayStation, a coffee bar, activity areas for art installations or theatre, and an open space with a reception area.
When a young person enters the new centre, they will be immediately greeted by a youth worker. Ms Michaels said the committee had worked hard to differentiate it from a general medical clinic.
"We want the young people to walk into somewhere comfortable, not like a regular GP office," she said. "They can even just pop in for a coffee and chat."
The committee would continue once the centre opened and develop ways to link with the community, in particular local schools.
Yarra Ranges Council and community health provider Inspiro had devised ways to connect young people further out from Knox with the service.
Ms Michaels said one proposal was to deploy headspace workers to a Lilydale site once a week and link with existing services in the shire.