By Mikayla van Loon
Yarra Ranges Council has identified the Lilydale Youth Hub as a major election priority for advocacy leading up to November’s State election.
Community Wellbeing acting manager Lisa Keedle said this was an important part providing the council’s promise of “equitable and accessible mental health services” in the Council Plan.
“[We] see the Lilydale Youth Hub as a critical local service in helping achieve this,” she said.
Given the Hub’s funding is due to run out at the end of the year, Ms Keedle said “it is simply critical that further funding be provided from the State or Federal Government to help keep their doors open.”
“Without the Hub, many young people in regional areas would be faced with a four-hour round trip to access mental health services which isn’t sustainable, and we have seven per cent more people than the state average who are seeking mental health services,” she said.
Ms Keedle said with the Hub delivering 3,651 sessions and 5,632 contact hours over the last financial year, another service, whether existing or not, could not help subsume what the Hub has been able to achieve in such a short amount of time.
“We’ll be raising all of this with our local MP’s and candidates in the leadup to the State election as a priority, and we’ve been working closely with Inspiro – the lead agency driving the Hub – to amplify their concerns and highlight their needs,” Ms Keedle said.
The Lilydale Youth Hub has become a vital and indispensable part of the Yarra Ranges community, providing a safe space for young people to gather, make friends and share in similar experiences.
“We hear often from the community about the positive interactions that they have with the Hub and that they want us advocating for more mental health services in Yarra Ranges,” Ms Keedle said.
“This has also been made resoundingly clear through community engagement processes for our Council Plan, Health and Wellbeing Plan and storm recovery work.”
Over the coming weeks, Star Mail will be focusing on the council’s main advocacy priorities and would love to hear from the community about this. If you would like to make a comment, please contact editor@mailcommunity.com.au
