Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I too rise today to speak on the motion raised by the member for Fisher. In doing so, I acknowledge the bipartisan support in making sure that long-term mental health reform continues to be a national priority.

Mental health continues to be a crucial area that needs our attention, because, despite continued efforts of funding and reform in this area, mental health remains a significant health issue for our community. I do acknowledge the government for maintaining mental health as a priority—one that is a key pillar of the national long-term health plan, with its $4.3 billion investment. I want to acknowledge the commitment to providing more support service and increasing investment in national psychological support measures, including striking an agreement with the state governments that will ensure more support services for our community.

Labor has a strong and proud record in delivering long-term mental health reform. It's a record that I certainly do hope to have the opportunity to see continue under a Shorten Labor government. In government, Labor increased funding for mental health by 357 per cent, to around $2.4 billion, from 2011-12 to 2014-15. Labor invested around $200 million over five years to fund an additional 30 headspace centres, bringing the total number of centres to 90 by 2016.

I remember well when, some 10 years ago, Professor Patrick McGorry made mental health a key national issue. He not only began the conversation about an area of health that too often is neglected or ignored; his passion and urgency ensured that mental health was a key government priority and secured significant funding agreements from both the government and the opposition at the time. The focus on youth mental health and suicide was a particular concern, and the many headspace centres that were established as a result of Professor Patrick McGorry's advocacy became the formula with which government responded to youth mental health.

One of these headspace centres is in my electorate, in Craigieburn, and it provides an invaluable service to my young constituents. It is run by Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and it caters for young people aged 12 to 25. It provides for them an opportunity to talk about their mental health in a safe space. It provides support and advice on anything, including: worries about homework; drug and alcohol concerns; relationship pressures; family issues; and just generally experiencing tough times as many young people do, and we know that from our own experiences.

It is estimated that around four million Australians aged 16 to 85 experience mental health problems—one in five Australians! That's a staggering statistic. Some of my colleagues have already spoken about their own personal experiences with mental health. Around 600,000 children and youth between the ages of four and 17 were affected by mental health issues and, tragically, 2,866 Australians died from suicide in 2016. Recognising that we need to do more, and in response to this alarming statistic, Labor put forward a mental health policy at the 2016 election with a strong focus on suicide prevention, which included adopting the National Mental Health Commission's recommendations to reduce suicide by 50 per cent over 10 years. The Turnbull government, at the time, were encouraged to adopt this policy but have yet to do so. I want to take the opportunity to not only congratulate the member for Fisher but also ask my colleagues in government to urge the government to adopt this policy as part of the continuing need for bipartisan support in the critical area of mental health.

As an electorate, Calwell has the highest intake of refugees from Iraq and Syria. These people come from war-torn countries; they have seen indescribable trauma and been exposed to conflict, violence and death. These new and emerging communities may not be aware of mental health plans because of language barriers and cultural differences or, in some instances, because they aren't entitled to a mental health plan.

Thankfully, members of our community have rallied to their support. An example of this is the youth-led, grassroots support organisation Colouring Clouds, which aims to raise awareness of mental health services and encourage young people to talk to each other openly about their mental health without fear, judgement or stigmatisation. Co-founded by my Broadmeadows constituent Anthony Luca and his friend Seamus Carr, Colouring Clouds collaborates with local community groups to create targeted services for those in the electorate and has a focus on the demographic of 25 years of age and under. One of the activities they have undertaken is helping Banksia Gardens to run an after-school sporting program at Bethel Primary School. They use a fun and informal setting to talk to young kids about the importance of physical activity, self-care, caring for your friends and being able to talk to people about your feelings without fear or shame.

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