Feds kick in for program

CORANGAMITE MP Sarah Henderson highlighted mental health concerns in Corangamite and the Greater Geelong region while announcing local program Read the Play would receive $115,817 to champion youth mental health efforts.

Ms Henderson joined football and netball players in Anglesea to announce that Read the Play would receive funding over the next two years to expand its successful program for 14 to 16-year-olds to 16 to 18-year-olds.

The innovative program was established in Geelong in 2007 and works with football and netball clubs to increase awareness among young people about mental health.

“I am so pleased that Read the Play will be able to use this funding to further its successful, engaging program to reach more of our young people,” Ms Henderson said.

The program started with the concept that young people could talk about mental health and improve their mental health literacy while kicking around a football, or catching a netball.

“Young people engage with a conversation about mental health in this context, because it is delivered in a fun and engaging way, alongside their peers and in their home clubs,” Read the Play said.

In March, the Government announced it would establish a headspace, alongside its commitment to establish a $4 million Health and Wellbeing Hub in Ocean Grove.

With three-quarters of mental illness starting before the age of 25, Ms Henderson said prevention was key.

“I recently hosted a youth mental health forum in Corangamite to explore ways our Government can best support young people, their peers and families,” she said.

Meanwhile, she has announced $2 million is being provided in the 2019-20 Budget for Bellarine Community Health in Portarlington.

The $2 million upgrade will fund the expansion of the building, enabling delivery of a broader range of ancillary health and community services.

These will include cardiac rehabilitation services.

The expanded facility will also become a home for the Portarlington Ladies Auxiliary, which runs the op shop that has raised more than $1 million since it started.

Ms Henderson said other services to be housed in the building included the Portarlington food assistance program and social support groups for seniors.

“The expanded facility will also be used by a range of other community groups and become a very important asset for the Portarlington community,” she said.

I AM SO PLEASED THAT READ THE PLAY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS FUNDING TO FURTHER ITS SUCCESSFUL, ENGAGING PROGRAM TO REACH MORE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. MP SARAH HENDERSON