Mental wellbeing prioritised
I was pleased to announce last week that another round of funding is available for Men’s Sheds in my electorate under the National Shed Development Programme.
Men’s Sheds are vital in providing a safe space for men to talk and work on meaningful projects – they have become a focal point for men, particularly in the bush.
The newest round of funding will prioritise applications with a strong health, wellbeing or safety emphasis, to acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 and the needs of Sheds in the recovery period and beyond. IT equipment and training will also be a focus, to help improve connectivity amongst shedders.
We also celebrated Headspace Day last week – a timely opportunity to promote a healthy headspace and consider the ways that we take care of our mental wellbeing. Headspace Dubbo and Headspace Broken Hill provide vital mental health support to young people in the Parkes electorate, with outreach services also available in Gunnedah, Narrabri and Moree.
I’m pleased this year’s Federal Budget includes $43 million over three years to deliver an expanded Headspace Individual Placement and Support program. This will support an additional 2,500 young people, who require mental health support, to get into employment or further education each year.
In further support of mental wellbeing, the Budget also includes an extension of Medicare-subsidised telehealth for patients, GPs, nursing, midwifery, allied health and allied mental health services, where and when they need them, and $5.7 billion towards mental health, including $100.8 million to double support under Better Access from 10 to 20 Medicare-funded psychological services.
Nominations open for Veterans’ Employment Awards
Local organisations that employ and support members of the veteran community, or veterans making a significant contribution to their workplace, are being encouraged to nominate for the 2021 Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards.
These Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate veterans in the Parkes electorate, and local organisations that employ former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families.
Members of the ADF gain an extensive range of skills, abilities, behaviours and attributes that make them valuable additions to the civilian workplace.
Nominations for the Awards are now open online. For further information and to nominate visit www.veteransemployment.gov.au/prime-ministers-veterans-employment-awards/awards. Nominations close on 20 November 2020, with winners to be announced in 2021.
Grants for drought resilience
Applications are closing soon for a $10 million program aimed at building drought resilience, as part of the Liberal National Government’s Future Drought Fund. Organisations, farmer groups and individuals are urged to apply for grants of between $20,000 and $200,000 to help deliver on-ground activities that build drought resilience through natural resource management.
Through the adoption of new technology and innovative practices, this program will deliver a range of on-ground outcomes achieving benefits that meet farmers’ priorities and contribute to landscape-scale drought resilience. I encourage eligible applicants in the Parkes electorate to consider how we may benefit from this program, and put forward strong applications for consideration.
Further details are available at www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund with applications closing 30 October.
