A new specialist mental health service for expectant and new parents is set to open in Adelaide today, with South Australia’s first Gidget House launching in Elizabeth to help families facing perinatal mental health challenges.
Opening on Tuesday 21 April, Gidget House Elizabeth will offer free face-to-face and telehealth psychological counselling for parents experiencing, or at risk of, perinatal depression and anxiety. Gidget Foundation Australia says its Gidget House services are Medicare bulk-billed, with access available via GP referral and a mental health treatment plan.
The launch comes alongside concerning new figures from Gidget Foundation Australia, which show many South Australian parents are struggling in silence. According to the organisation, 34 per cent of parents in the state have experienced perinatal mental health symptoms without seeking professional help, while 31 per cent are unsure how to access support. Only 26 per cent reported having their mental health screened during pregnancy, underscoring a major gap in early intervention.
The new site, Gidget House Elizabeth at United Way South Australia, is designed to make that support easier to reach. Located within Elizabeth Shopping Centre, it will sit alongside other family-focused services already delivered by United Way South Australia, creating a more convenient support hub for local families.
Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride will officially open the service tomorrow.
“The Albanese Labor Government is delivering more mental health services in the heart of communities, backed by Medicare,” she said.
“One in five women and one in ten men experience anxiety or depression when they are expecting or have just become new parents and accessing support can be difficult.
“Gidget House Elizabeth at United Way South Australia will give parents in Adelaide a welcoming place to access free mental health support and care.”
Perinatal depression and anxiety remains one of the most common complications of pregnancy and early parenthood in Australia, affecting around one in five mothers and one in ten fathers each year. Gidget Foundation Australia says demand for specialist support continues to grow nationally, and the new Elizabeth service is part of a broader push to make timely care more accessible. Gidget House locations provide individual psychological counselling for expectant, new and potential parents, with both in-person and telehealth options available.
Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said the South Australian launch was a major milestone for the organisation in its 25th year.
“In Gidget Foundation Australia’s 25th year, the establishment of our first Gidget House in South Australia is a landmark occasion. We know that parents in South Australia are struggling to access the perinatal mental health support they need, which is why it is so important for us to expand our services to reach these parents and decrease the barriers of accessing care.
“It is estimated that around 5,150 parents in Greater Adelaide will experience perinatal anxiety and depression each year, which is why accessibility of specialised mental health care is so important. The opening of our first Gidget House in South Australia marks an important milestone for not only our organisation but for Adelaide and the sector more broadly.”
The foundation says it has now supported more than 16,000 families nationally through more than 126,000 free appointments across 43 Gidget House locations, and its current service information confirms a growing national footprint, including South Australian roles and services in Elizabeth and Murray Bridge.
For local families, the arrival of a dedicated perinatal mental health service is a significant step. It means more parents in northern Adelaide will be able to access specialised support closer to home during one of the most vulnerable and demanding periods of their lives.
Where: Elizabeth City Centre (outside Harris Scarfe) 50 Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth
When: Opens today
For more info on the Gidget Foundation, click here.
