Lilydale Youth Hub
Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (09:52): Sadly, our local youth mental health service, the Lilydale Youth Hub, which serviced right across the Yarra Ranges, was forced to close in December at the hands of the Labor government. This vital early intervention youth mental health service closed because the new federal Albanese Labor government stripped it of funding and the Andrews Labor government refused to support it. The hub’s closure is devastating and poses a significant clinical risk to the clients, who will unfortunately lose those valuable connections. They will be discharged into the general mental health system, which is already at capacity. Over 100 young people in my community that were clients of this service are now in the mental health service and are not being helped at all. They are devastated. Our community is devastated. I have listened to many local teenagers and young adults about how important and helpful this service was and how it saved lives. We rallied, we fought, we wrote to the Prime Minister, we wrote to the Premier and I raised it personally with our Minister for Mental Health in this place. It is an absolute shame. But I do thank those staff who are dedicated to our youth, the amazing team at the hub for their dedication and their resilience and their commitment to Yarra Ranges youth, and those at Inspiro community health, Anchor, Cire Services, Oonah Health and Community Services Aboriginal Corporation, and the Eastern Community Legal Centre.