A new pilot program announced by the Federal Government to support people struggling to cope with the drought is to include communities in NSW.
The Commonwealth Department of Health is increasing mental health support in nine drought-affected communities.
The national Minister for Regional Services (Health and Communications), Senator Bridget McKenzie (pictured) said a Trusted Advocates Network Trial is to be rolled out in the nine communities across four states.
Senator McKenzie said the nine trial locations are Scone, Cooma, Coonabarabran, Portland and Narrandera in NSW; Longreach and Goondiwindi in QLD; Tailem Bend in South Australia and Sale in Victoria.
“I’m delighted to be in regional New South Wales today and announce that nine communities in our drought affected areas in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria will be locations for a Trusted Advocate Trial, where we enable the local Primary Health Network (PHN) to reach out into the community and help those who are struggling with the impact of drought,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The local PHN will provide support and training to community leaders who are trusted faces in our towns and villages.
“Sometimes people don’t necessarily need to go through the clinical process at first instance – they just need someone to talk to who understands what the conditions are like in their community at that moment in time, and is a familiar, comforting presence already in their lives.”
She said the trial followed recommendations from Major General Stephen Day who we appointed Drought Coordinator last year, in recognition of just how damaging and widespread the current drought has been.
“Some of the feedback he received was that people who are already feeling stressed or concerned can find it hard to open up to people they don’t know,” Senator McKenzie said.
“We have taken this feedback and developed this trial to enable local communities to strengthen their own local drought support network,” she said.
“As a result of these roundtable consultations with regional communities, the Government will provide $463,815 over three years in nine locations for additional informal mental health support and referral pathways,” the Minister said.
