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Mental support here By Corey Everitt Pakenham now has its own service dedicated to free mental health support, with new satellite posts to operate in Cockatoo and Kooweerup, providing much-needed assistance in the Cardinia area. On Wednesday 27 May, the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local on Station Street was officially opened by Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt, who was joined by Pakenham MP Emma Vulin and Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino. The service is now part of 22 Locals across Victoria, which provide tailored support by mental health professionals both in-person and via telehealth. “More than 41,000 Victorians have already accessed free support through our Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals,” Minister Stitt said. “We’ve delivered Locals just like this one right across Victoria: so more people can access the care they need.” The service is available for all adults over the age of 26. Access is free, and it does not require a Medicare card or a GP referral. The Local will begin to build out its operations across Cardinia, with satellite sites to be established in Cockatoo and Kooweerup. The Local will operate out of the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association at 7-17 McBride Street, Cockatoo. In the future, they will do the same at a location near the Kooweerup Regional Health Service. “The Cardinia Mental Health and Wellbeing Local will mean our community can access even more care, closer to home,” Vulin said. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experienced mental health professionals, wellbeing staff, and peer support workers. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 in 10 Pakenham locals reported living with a mental health condition, including depression or anxiety. The council has reported in its Health and Wellbeing data that 22 per cent of Cardinia Shire residents reported ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels of psychological stress in 2023. In the same year, almost a quarter (24 per cent) of residents reported experiencing loneliness. During the short period that the Pakenham Local has operated, it was reported at the opening that residents have presented with a range of factors contributing to their stress, including cost-
LOCATIONS
U2, 1 Stephenson Street PAKENHAM
equipped to deal with a range of needs, including co-occurring alcohol and drug treatment and care needs. The network was initiated by the state government in response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Services at the Cardinia Mental Health and Wellbeing Local are delivered by Mind Australia
in partnership with Monash Health. Appointments are available; you can contact the Local on 03 5929 2600. The Pakenham Local is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm at 16 Station Street, Pakenham. More information and contact details are available at betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth-wellbeing-locals.
12658988-AV32-24
PAKENHAM, WARRAGUL, LEONGATHA, MOE
(03) 5922 2072
of-living and housing insecurity. Relative to the median income of $1,901 per week in 2021, 46.3 per cent of Cardinia households fell into the category of very low income (50 per cent or less than the median per week) during the 2021 census. Locals act as a ‘front door’ to the system, making them an important tool in early intervention
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From left: Mind Australia Victorian Executive Director Belinda McCullough, Cr Trudi Paton, Cr Jack Kowarzik, Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt, Pakenham MP Emma Vulin (below), Mind Australia CEO Gill Callister (above), Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino and Mind Australia Operations Manager Michelle Murray. (Corey Everitt)
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