$1 million for family support
Responses to increased pressures on Gippsland families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the areas of family violence and mental health, will get a major boost with notfor-profit health insurer Latrobe Health Service donating $1 million to three family support organisations in the region.
Quantum and Anglicare will each receive $350,000 and Berry Street will get $300,000.
Announcing the donations Latrobe Health chief executive officer Ian Whitehead said they would be used to provide additional youth mental health services, food and care packages, responses to and prevention of family violence and additional staff to support children and young people.
Quantum’s chair Roland Davies said the Gippsland-wide organisation established more than 40 years ago would ensure the donation it received would address the needs of vulnerable people in the community affected by the impacts of the virus.
Chief executive officer Elizabeth Pearson said Quantum’s focus would also include more targeted support to men and their stresses associated with work and economic limitations.
Anglicare that has five offices in Gippsland, including at Warragul, supports families impacted by family violence, young socially isolated people and parents with children that become violent or abusive as well as providing broad care for children, young people and families throughout the region.
Berry Street, whose Gippsland services are spread across an area extending from Warragul to Wonthaggi and Bairnsdale, will direct the donated funds to additional support for youth mental health.
Mr Whitehead said there were Gippsland families in desperate need. Although a notfor-profit organisation, he said it always gave back when the community needed and was standing with it during the far-reaching impacts of the current crisis.