‘Mental illness should not be a barrier’: $1M investment to push local youth employment
A local program helping youth struggling with mental health conditions to secure employment has received a boost.
Fraser Coast
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A local program helping Hervey Bay youth with mental health conditions get into the workforce will be extended until 2024.
Hervey Bay Headspace’s Individual Placement and Support Program will receive $1,054,560 from the Coalition Government.
Speaking at the site on Thursday Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the funding boost was aimed at ensuring “young people with mental illnesses can secure employment opportunities”.
“We‘re extending the program for 24 existing headspace locations, one of which is Hervey Bay, and then 26 new sites right across Australia,” Mr Pitt said.
“We know in terms of mental illness, that it is those aged between 15 and 24, when they might start to experience the effects of mental illness and we know if there’s intervention and support at that time, there is much better outcomes in the future.”
The program aims to address barriers preventing people with mental illnesses from finding and keeping a job, working alongside educational and workforce support with clinical mental health services.
Hervey Bay headspace Senior Vocational Specialist Sam Howard said the program has already been successfully running for two years.
“It was basically evaluated by the Department of Social Services as been a hugely successful program … we‘ve seen hundreds of our youth get employment, study, and access the community and get more independence in their lives,” Mr Howard said.
Unfortunately, the region is facing high suicide rates, with a particular recent spike in youth suicides.
An issue being seen between organisations focusing on combating this, is a lack of communication.
When asked how the government could ensure funding for mental health organisations made a genuine difference given challenges associated with the sharing of information between services, Mr Pitt said he was “happy” to look into additional co-ordination measures.
“I‘m very happy to go back to social services and other levels of support, whether it’s through health or other departments to see what more can be done … I‘ll always encourage local organisations to talk to one another because this is about outcomes,” he told the Chronicle.
“Now, in terms of whether there needs to be additional co-ordination, I‘m happy to take advice and I’m happy to hear from constituents that have concerns.
“First and foremost, this is about delivering services that provide better outcomes for local kids and that’s what I want to do.”
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