JMR with Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston
Four new dedicated headspace programs will assist young people in Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Melton experiencing mental illness to join the workforce.
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said Ballarat headspace site would run the Individual Placement and Support Program to address barriers preventing people with mental illness from finding and keeping a job.
“The Morrison Government will invest $3.6 million to these valuable programs to boost local mental health and employment services across these four regional Victorian centres,” Senator for Victoria said.
“By integrating educational and workforce support with clinical mental health services, we can help our young people secure employment opportunities.
“Mental illness should not be a barrier to pursuing a fulfilling career and the Individual Placement and Support Program will ensure young people have access to the tailored support they need to thrive in any workplace.”
“I am delighted to announce the following services have received funding as follows:
- Bendigo Community Health Services: Bendigo headspace – $1.069 million
- Barwon Child Youth and Family: Geelong headspace – $845,000
- Ballarat Community Health: Ballarat headspace – $845,000
- Orygen at Melton: Melton headspace – $845,000
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the onset of mental illness in young people can significantly affect their ability to transition from study to work.
“This investment will provide local career assistance hand-in-hand with clinical support to help young people with mental illness enter the workforce and reach their full potential,” Minister Ruston said.
The Morrison Government will invest this funding for the program over four years. The programs are expected to be operational by the end of this month.
Nationally, the Individual Placement and Support Program will allow more than 6,000 Australians under the age of 25 experiencing mental illness to access a range of specialist vocational and employment support services.
28 July 2021