Australia To Invest $2.4 Million For Wellbeing Centres Across Cape York
The Wellbeing Centres were established in mid 2008, as part of the Cape York reform trial, and were designed to help address concerns from Cape York Elders and Leaders about deteriorating social and economic conditions and they are proving to be popular.
“There’s been a positive response, with a steady increase in client numbers and in most communities involved more than a quarter of the local population are making use of the facilities,” Mr Snowdon said.
“That has increased the demand for services, and has resulted in the need for this extra funding to expand services,” he said.
Details of the expansion of the Coen Wellbeing Centre will be released in the near future.
Mr Snowdon is visiting the region with the Member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, and said the funding will expand facilities and provide:
- Aurukun Wellbeing Centre with two additional counsellor positions, as well as an additional meeting and counselling room and a staff house ($885,000)
- Mossman Gorge Wellbeing Centre with enhanced meeting and counselling facilities, and a car parking space ($335,000)
- Hope Vale Wellbeing Centre with provide an addition staff house and space for meeting and counselling facilities ($536,800)The Rudd Government invested $22 million over four years to establish four Wellbeing centres across Cape York, including a $6.6 million contribution from the Queensland Government.
This financial year the Australian Government has also provided more than $3.6 million to support the operation of the Wellbeing Centres.
The Wellbeing Centres are designed to meet the social and emotional wellbeing needs of people affected by or involved in drug and alcohol misuse and related family and domestic violence issues.
They provide a comprehensive range of drug and alcohol, mental health, domestic violence and general counselling services.
Families and individuals who aren’t meeting parental and community responsibilities can be referred to the facilities by the Families Responsibilities Commission, setup as part of the Cape York Reform trial.
“In total, more than 500 people are now benefiting from these Wellbeing Centres across the region,” Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Desley Boyle said.
“These centres are not only about providing services but also about providing a centre for positive community activities.”
Mr Turnour said the Wellbeing Centres continue to evolve as community hubs.
“Through them people are actively engaged in a number of community development activities such as men’s and women’s groups, an art therapy program that helps people with mental health problems, and one centre is enlisting the help of a local healer.”
Mr Snowdon said the Wellbeing Centres’ success was strengthened by the involvement of the Wellbeing Centres’ Local Advisory Group, which features local Indigenous community members.
“These members have to be congratulated for getting involved and developing responses to meet the specific health needs of this local community. This is an extremely positive and invaluable contribution that will ensure the long term sustainability of this community health service.”
Mr Turnour said the centres also support training and jobs for local people, and a high proportion of the staff are Indigenous.
He congratulated Royal Flying Doctor Service for playing a critical role in providing workforce training.
“We know it’s very difficult to access training in remote areas, but through the ‘Drop the Rock’ program Indigenous staff can train up for a Certificate IV level in Community Development, which can include drug and alcohol and mental health modules,” Mr Turnour said.
“The RFDS is training a new intake of 20 Indigenous staff in May, and many of them will be staff from Wellbeing centres, so that’s very positive for the region,” Mr Snowdon added.
In a separate funding announcement, the Mossman Gorge Clinic will receive $335,000 to conduct upgrades, such as a new ramp, and support it to meet higher accreditation standards.
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