WANNON MP Dan Tehan convened a round table discussion on Monday night to hear the concerns of locals on issues concerning our youth.
In attendance were bereaved Hamilton parents, Matt and Lee Elmes, who tragically lost their son, Joshua, 15, in a car accident last month.
Mr Tehan invited his Parliamentary colleague, shadow minister for Early Childhood Education and shadow minister for Youth, Angie Bell, to participate in discussions and hear the issues that are important locally – especially concerning our youth and their future.
Community organisations were represented including local government, health and education.
Mr Tehan said it was pleasing to have so many representatives from multiple organisations come together for what was an important discussion for the community and the future of local youth.
“We were able to hear a lot of ideas,” he said.
“There was a wide range of people there from different areas of the community which made it very worthwhile.
He said one of the most positive parts of the discussion was with headspace coming to Hamilton and how services can be coordinated around that.
“(A lot of the discussion centred) around improving the coordination of services – especially in the mental health area,” Mr Tehan said.
Ms Bell said it was encouraging to see how the community had reacted after such a tragic accident had occurred claiming the lives of four young people and offered her sincere condolences to the families and to the community of Hamilton.
“The community came together because they want to support the young people in the area,” she said.
“To hold them up in terms of hope for the future and to create something that could deliver a community for them – in terms of being able to meet at a hub and to better support their mental health and their social needs.
“Covid has been a big factor in young people feeling isolated with one of the top concerns being mental health.
“I commend Dan in his work for headspace and getting the funding for it because headspace could deliver a hub for young people as well as wraparound services for their mental health concerns and needs.”
Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) chief executive, Tony Doyle, thanked Mr Tehan and his office for organising the event and arranging for Ms Bell to attend.
“It was informative to hear views from all the agencies around the table and encouraging to see so much dedication to youth within our Shire,” he said.
Mrs Elmes said it was an interesting meeting that she felt was very positive.
“I think it went pretty well – everyone got to have a say,” she said.
“All the agencies got together to try and work out what we can do for local youth.
“(There were representatives) from mental health, clinical health, youth aspect – everyone came together to see what they can do to help.”
Mrs Elmes said the consensus was that everyone was awaiting headspace to be set up in Hamilton and that things have to take their natural course of progression.
“Headspace will open in December – so we’ve got to wait until then,” she said.
“We can’t rush things.
“But it was a positive discussion – talking about working together.
“I am hoping to see that what we spoke about (Monday night) gets put in place.”
