17 July 2019
Joint media release from Mornington Peninsula Shire and Minister Greg Hunt, Federal Member for Flinders:
Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, joined with members of the Mornington Peninsula Shire to sign off on $1.5 million in Morrison Government funding for the Shire's Youth Services Hub in Rosebud.
The Hub, scheduled for completion in 2021, will unite multiple groups under one roof, providing young locals with combined health, wellbeing, recreational, education, training and employment services.
"Mental health is an issue that is very close to my heart," Minister Hunt said. "It has profoundly affected my own family, and I know it has had a devastating impact on most families around Australia. I'm proud to sign off on the Morrison Government's funding for the Mornington Peninsula Shire's Youth Services Hub.
"In addition to this funding, we have provided $1.5 million for headspace satellite services in Hastings and Rosebud. The Federal Government has supported the Shire's decision to request a 2021 completion date for the Hub, but we will continue to work to get these services in the community as soon as possible."
"This combined funding gets the Shire close to their goal and it is my hope that the Victorian Government joins with us to provide a whole of government approach to youth mental health on the Peninsula.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor David Gill said he welcomed an agreement with the Hon Greg Hunt MP and the Morrison Government which will deliver funding for the construction of the Hub.
"The current site is too small and has limited service capacity," Mayor Gill said. "We need to do all we can to protect the future of young people on the Peninsula and improving access to a range of services they need has been high on Council's agenda for a long time."
"We must go further to link our youth with services and increase participation rates in education. The Southern Peninsula Integrated Youth Hub will help us support the young people in our community. We're grateful to Minister Hunt for his support in making this possible."
Approximately one in four young Australians aged 16-24 years face some form of mental health challenge every year, and three quarters of all mental illness manifests in people under the age of 25. Support early in life and at an early stage of illness can reduce the duration and impact of mental illness, and therefore brings lifelong benefits to individuals and communities.
The Morrison Government's strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into mental health, ground-breaking medical research, Medicare, life-saving medicines, and hospitals.
