The radio station manager and businessman takes the reigns from former City of Ballarat councillor Vicki Coltman, who has led the headspace board the past five years through significant transition.

Mr FitzGibbon steps up as headspace Ballarat continues to grow as a more holistic one-stop spot for the city’s youth. This includes development of walk-up classes like yoga and life skills for all youth, not just clients.

“This is such a necessity and even though the organisation has been around for about five years it has been still been well overdue,” Mr FitzGibbon said.

“I hope to see our headspace grow in visibility.”

For Ms Coltman, headspace’s second independent chairman, it felt time for a change. 

Ms Coltman has been proud of all headspace Ballarat has achieved and how it continues to develop. 

headspace Ballarat had 4138 young people walk through its doors last year and the numbers continue to rise.

Almost 80 per cent of Ballarat clients now self-refer.

Services range from general practitioners and counselling to employment aid, but Ms Coltman said the non-client programs, like yoga, had helped more young people feel comfortable in the space should they want to seek further formal services.

“I love this place. Where headspace is headed is fantastic for Ballarat but what it has achieved so far is incredible, too,” Ms Coltman said.

“This (board) change will still mean business as usual, and that’s really important for the young people who come through the door to not notice anything different.”

Ballarat Community Health has taken the lead on a health and welfare consortium overseeing headspace Ballarat operations since April 2016.

The shift has allowed the consortium to direct the national initiative into programs that best fit this region’s needs.

headspace Ballarat will also welcome its first youth adviser in the consortium.

Jakson Smith joined the Ballarat youth reference group in 2016, having moved from Melbourne where he was also part of a suburban headspace advisory.

Ballarat’s youth reference group has worked to help make headspace and other youth services and centres across the region a more comfortable space, for example, introducing pinball machines in waiting spaces.

headspace provides early intervention mental health services for 12-25 year olds and promotes young peoples’ wellbeing. Online counselling is also available at eheadspace.org.au.