Chief executive Leonard Peady last night welcomed the announcement of funding for the centre and said the next step would be to submit an expression of interest on behalf of a cross- Border group that included representatives from local health and youth services and training agencies.

“Gateway has been co-ordinating a group of local agencies for almost two years to lobby and plan for the establishment of a headspace centre in Albury-Wodonga and it is very exciting to know that effort has had results,” Mr Peady said.

“The group is well placed to plan and operate an innovative and dynamic headspace site, which will offer a range of health and support services to young people in the area.

“If our expression of interest is accepted, we will begin working with our group of local partners to develop an implementation plan.

“It’s an exciting time and we are really looking forward to working together to create a new service for the young people of Albury-Wodonga.”

Headspace chief executive Chris Tanti said thousands more young Australians, aged 12 to 25, would get the help they needed with the announcement of the new centres in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.

“Through our existing headspace centres we’ve assisted almost 100,000 young people on to a better path as they enter into adulthood,” Mr Tanti said.

“These additional centres will help us see thousands more young people each year and get their lives on track.”