By Colin MacGillivray
SHADOW Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie joined Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, Mitchell Shire councillors and local health leaders in Seymour last week to call for the Federal Government to fund the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub in next month’s budget.
The planned hub would bring together several health and other community organisations at a central location, allowing people to access services including adult and veterans’ mental health, family violence support, and employment and education resources.
Councillors have listed the project as one of their top priorities, claiming it would help reverse decades of intergenerational disadvantage and poor health outcomes in Seymour and the surrounding district.
The estimated cost of the hub is $26 million, with council pledging $3 million and asking for $14 million and $9 million from the federal and state governments respectively.
The Liberal-Nationals coalition pledged $10 million towards the project before last year’s federal election – a pledge not matched by Labor, which subsequently formed government.
Mr Birrell said with the government discontinuing the Building Better Regions Fund, the project was left in limbo.
“In question time we have asked questions to [Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Catherine King] about when we will see [regional] funding guidelines. The answer we get is ‘soon’,” he said.
“That doesn’t tell me much. I’ve got people all across this electorate who have got projects that they want to talk to the government about. They don’t need ‘soon’, they need a funding program, they need guidelines and they need real money in it.
“We didn’t win government, but the Labor Party who did said they would govern for all Australians. This is their chance to prove it by putting some money towards the regions.”
Ms McKenzie said Seymour’s large Australian Defence Force veteran population made it important to establish veteran mental health services at the hub, in line with recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
“When you’re in government it’s all about priorities when it comes to the budget. Where are you going to spend the money? We are arguing … that you need to spend it in the regions,” she said.
“We are Australians too and we deserve great services … just like the rest of Australia.”
Nexus Primary Health chief executive Amanda Mullins said the hub would help Seymour cope with the long-term effects of the floods that devastated the town last year.
“We haven’t seen a massive spike [in demand for services following the floods], but that’s not unusual with an event like this,” she said.
“Often people are concerned with getting a roof over their head and making sure they have clothes and food on the table. Down the track is when we see indications of that.
“Every time Nexus has worked in partnership to manage the impacts of disasters, we see it down the track – sometimes up to five or 10 years later.
“Ideally, we would want to have the hub in place before those effects start to become evident.”
Cr Louise Bannister said flood recovery was one of many reasons there was a need for the hub.
“There are some astounding stats about Seymour. It’s listed as one of the top 20 most disadvantaged towns in Australia – not Victoria, Australia – by the Dropping off the Edge report,” she said.
“One in three people won’t finish high school in Seymour; one in 14 need assistance daily; and it’s three times the state average for domestic violence. There are some atrocious statistics pointing to the need for this service.
“A no-wrong-door approach is not just about health services. When you enter that door anonymously, people don’t know whether you’re entering for a dental appointment, a mental health appointment, a doctor’s appointment or just to meet with a few friends for a chat and a coffee.
“It takes away the unjustified stigma that someone might feel when they reach out for help.”
Cr Bannister said one in five homes in Seymour was not connected to the internet.
“That’s why we need physical services on the ground here. Telehealth isn’t always appropriate for everyone,” she said.
“We’re pushing all the time to get this project done. We’ve done everything we possibly can from our end so far to get it there. We just need that commitment from the government now.”
Seymour Health chief executive Ward Steet called on the government to fund the hub as a matter of urgency.
“[This project] will improve access to services and it has potential to impact intergenerational disadvantage – three generations of poor health outcomes,” he said.
“Without it improving health access, that’s not going to change.
“I don’t want to be standing here in 40 years’ time saying ‘40 years ago we spoke about this, and nothing has changed’.”