PDF printable version of Helping people affected by drought-related trauma (PDF 36 KB)
Joint Release
Senator the Hon Brett Mason
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing
Mr Paul Neville MP
Member for Hinkler
7 September 2007
The Australian Government is providing $10.1 million to help people living in drought-affected communities to deal with drought-related psychological trauma.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Brett Mason, launched the initiative in Gladstone, Queensland, today with the Member for Hinkler, Paul Neville.
Senator Mason said total funding of $7.4 million would be provided to 39 Divisions of General Practice in drought-affected rural and remote areas around Australia to employ community support workers to provide crisis counselling and outreach services for people affected psychologically by the drought.
“It is important that these communities have the capacity to respond to drought-related psychological distress,” Mr Neville said. “Further funding is being provided to train workforce and community leaders to recognise and respond to the early warnings of emotional distress, and raise awareness of mental health issues and services.”
The Government will work closely with
beyondblue and the Australian General Practice Network to implement this initiative.
To complement this initiative, the Government recently announced that $20.6 million would be provided to employ 114 additional allied health and/or mental health nursing professionals to strengthen the mental health service network in drought-declared rural and remote areas. This is part of the $70 million, four-year
Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Communities initiative.
A list of Divisions of General Practice which are receiving funding is attached. The list is also available at
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/dgpp-trauma
Media contact: Carolyn Martin 0423 826 768
Divisions of General Practice to receive funding for drought-related psychological trauma
NSW
New England DGP
NSW Outback DGP
South East NSW DGP
Northern Rivers DGP
Barwon DGP
Central West NSW DGP
Riverina DGP
North West Slopes NSW
Dubbo Plains DGP
Murrumbidgee DGP
Hunter Rural DGP
Barrier DGP
Southern Highlands DGP
Shoalhaven DGP
Queensland
Capricornia DGP
Central QLD Rural DGP
Mackay DGP
North & West QLD Primary Health Care
Southern QLD Rural
Sunshine Coast DGP
GP Connections
Wide Bay DGP | South Australia
Eyre Peninsula DGP
Limestone Coast DGP
Mid North DGP
Flinders & Far North DGP
Murray Mallee General Practice Network
Riverland DGP
Victoria
Border DGP
Ballarat DGP
Bendigo DGP
Central Highlands DGP
West Vic DGP
North East Victoria DGP
East Gippsland DGP
Goulburn Valley DGP
Mallee DGP
Murray Plains DGP
Otway DGP |
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