Griffith Among 15 Locations in Australia to Secure Headspace Centre
Friday October 10, 2014
Griffith City Council is pleased to announce that local efforts over the past two years to secure a Headspace facility in Griffith have been successful with the city chosen as one of 15 locations in Australia.
The Headspace Centre in Griffith will provide services to people aged between 12 and 25 in the Western Riverina region. The news was confirmed in an announcement made by Michael McCormack MP, the National’s member for Riverina, on Tuesday October 7.
Council’s Community Development Coordinator Peta Dummett, chair of the local Headspace4Griffith Committee, said she was ecstatic to learn that Griffith was selected in this round of funding.
“We knew we were high on the priority list according to NSW Member for Murrumbidgee Mr Piccoli but it was still fantastic news to know we had been selected,” Ms. Dummett said. “The news comes at a time of year when many young people are about to sit exams and headspace will be a useful resource for supporting them leading into, during and post exam results,” she added.
Ms Dummett said the result would not have been possible without the hard work and support of key agencies and organisations including The Personnel Group, which funded the headspace4griffith postcards, Murrumbidgee Medicare Local Ltd, GetSet, Centacare, neighbouring councils, local high schools and non-government agencies.
Being unable to access support services leaves local young people more vulnerable and feeling isolated, according to Griffith Mayor John Dal Broi.
“A Headspace Centre in Griffith will be highly valued as it will provide access to strategies and services for local young people to manage issues they are experiencing such as anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol, eating disorders and peer group pressures,” Mayor Dal Broi said. “We congratulate Peta, her committee, and the individuals and organisations involved in driving this important Headspace campaign, which is ultimately about helping and supporting young people and their families in our regional communities,” Mayor Dal Broi added.
The Headspace4Griffith Committee consists of members from as far as Hay, Carrathool Shire, Lake Cargelligo, Narrandera, and Leeton. The Community Action Suicide Elimination (CASE) team in Hay was a strong advocate of the campaign and raised awareness by cycling to Canberra to highlight the critical need for mental health services for youth in regional towns, according to Ms. Dummett.
“CASE sends its congratulations to the Heaspace4Griffith Committee as the members have done a fantastic job and having this facility in Griffith will make a difference in the lives of youths in need,” said Peter Dwyer, President of CASE .
The 15 locations announced by the Federal Government are: Griffith (Murrumbidgee), Orange, Sydney – Castle Hill, Broken Hill – Far West, Goulburn, Moreton Bay – north (Caboolture), Gladstone, Brisbane east (Capalaba), Bundaberg, Swan Hill, Melbourne – Greensborough, Gippsland (Bairnsdale), Grampians (Horsham), Geraldton, and Limestone Coast (Mount Gambier).
