Marles call for facility
French photographer Florian Ledoux took out the wildlife category for his striking image of a pod of 20 crabeater seals resting themselves on an Antarctic ice floe.
Entries were received from 107 countries.
See www.droneawards. photo for more. CORIO MP Richard Marles has urged the Federal Government to fast track a promised adult mental health facility for Geelong.
The Government would not specify when the northern suburbs centre, pledged before the election, would open when questioned by the Geelong Advertiser.
Mr Marles called on the Government to reveal the timeline of the new mental health centre’s construction.
The Health Department said consultations with stakeholders and experts this financial year would dictate its rollout.
“The Government’s own figures show that 15.8 per cent of residents of Greater Geelong are experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress,” Mr Marles said.
“Prior to the last election, the Minister for Health announced that a re-elected Morrison government would timeline for establishment.
A Health Department spokeswoman said the funding for the adult mental health centre would be for three years.
“As part of the 2019-20 Budget, the Australian Government has committed $114.5 million from 2020-21 to 2024-25 to fund a new trial of eight adult community mental health centres,” the spokeswoman said.
“The trial sites will start operating from 2020-21 and progressively rollout until 2024-25.
“The centres will provide a range of mental health support services over extended operating hours.
“The centres will ensure that people are provided appropriate immediate support and are connected to pathways of less urgent longer term care by integrating with other local community services including GPs, local primary health network services, and state operated services.” the centre’s