Eildon electorate
Ms McLEISH (Eildon) (14:42): (6440) My question is to the Minister for Health. Why has the government ceased support for the successful Be Well in the Ranges program? This program has played an important role across the Kinglake ranges in the last three years through the provision of free counselling, psychological support and music therapy to those fire-affected communities through the neighbourhood house. Dealing with the long-term impacts of the Black Saturday bushfires and triggered by the more recent fires, residents have turned to this service to deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief and loss. Currently five psychologists, counsellors and therapists conduct approximately 400 client sessions every six months, a need greater than originally anticipated. Since COVID-19 there has been an influx of patients, 30 per cent of which are under the age of 25. Kinglake is without a medical practitioner and the next closest mental health service specifically for young people is in Greensborough. Without ongoing funding, the program will be forced to close, leaving many people without help.