Thursday, 2 May 2019

Eastern Victoria Region

In reply to Mr O’DONOHUE (Eastern Victoria) (5 March 2019)

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries)

The Andrews Labor Government supports the provision of high-quality mental health services for residents of all ages across the Mornington Peninsula.

The Government funds a range of programs that provide important mental health support and treatment options for young people on the Mornington Peninsula, including a youth Prevention and Recovery Centre and inpatient services.

Over the last four years, we have developed and funded a number of initiatives to improve mental health supports available in schools, including the Victorian Anti-Bullying and Mental Health Initiative, the Safe Schools program and the Enhancing Mental Health Support in Schools initiative.

Our new Mental Health in Schools program will build on these initiatives and will allow schools across the state, including Rosebud Secondary College, to employ over 190 qualified mental health professionals, to ensure that secondary school students receive the mental health support they need, when they need it.

The existing Headspace at Frankston also works in partnership with local schools, providers and councils in the area to ensure timely access to mental health services. However, I am aware that there has been substantial community interest in establishing a Headspace on the Mornington Peninsula and would like to acknowledge the advocacy of the Member for Nepean on this issue.

I was pleased to hear the recent announcement by the Federal Opposition that if elected, they will fully fund a Headspace centre in Rosebud, delivering a full service to the community rather than the half-baked commitment proposed by the Federal Health Minister.

It is disappointing for the Mornington Peninsula community that their Federal Member of Parliament has only recently woken up to the mental health needs of the Peninsula. It is even more disappointing that after 18 years as their local member and two years as the Federal Health Minister he has tried to short-change the community on this issue, committing to only half of the funding for these vital services.