Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a privilege to be able to speak on this motion. I want to acknowledge the kind words that were made by the member for Mayo and the contribution acknowledging the legacy of the former member for Sturt Christopher Pyne in establishing headspace centres across Australia, because we all know how important mental health is for the success of young people's lives. We know that almost one in five, or 3.8 million, Australians face a mental health challenge every single year and that more than 25 per cent of mental health issues develop before an Australian turns the age of 25. So providing important, essential and readily available mental health support services is critical not just for the individuals who are impacted but, truthfully, for the success of our country, because ultimately it's the human capital that's lost when mental health becomes a burden that cannot be overcome.

That's why it's so central to what this government is focused on. In fact, one of the first initiatives that was announced during COVID-19 pandemic was from the federal government about the significant top-up in resources for mental health services, because we knew that when you had a health crisis and an economic crisis that'll follow the strain isn't just in people's physical bodies, it isn't just in their hip pockets but it's the strain that comes from losing jobs and the isolation and the challenges that people will face as a consequence of dealing with quarantine and making sure they're able to get back on their feet. It won't end tomorrow; it's not going to end at the end of the lockdown period in Victoria or in other parts of the country where they've had restrictive measures. This is going to go on, and we need resilient Australians to help build the future of our great country.

There was $509 million allocated for the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan in the federal budget, including $375 million for headspace specifically. And I know—and I'm sure I'm speaking on behalf of many members here, but I will stress particularly Victorian members—we have had so many examples of people coming into our offices needing help and assistance, particularly younger Australians. Let's not underestimate what's happening. We're seeing young Australians who otherwise are happy in their lives suddenly finding themselves essentially trapped in their own homes, missing rites of passage, and simple activities that we know are so critical to people's total wellbeing—physical activity, being able to go and kick a footy or play netball or whatever sport—are suddenly gone in Victoria. That's why the sooner we get out of this period, the better.

I talk regularly to young people who have had to adjust to education online, but they're missing school formals and valedictory addresses. That's why, in the Goldstein office, we recognised this challenge early and actually set up and recorded a video conference with our local headspace centre in Bentleigh. We got experts along and we had a good old chat on Facebook Live, and recorded it so that it was available in an ongoing way so that, if young Australians and young people, particularly in Goldstein, are facing problems, there is a nonconfrontational way where, in their own time and space, they can find out how to get access to the support services that they need. I particularly want to thank headspace Bentleigh for taking the time and being involved with us in that initiative. It has had a very large number of views and we've had a lot of feedback from local residents, particularly younger residents, that it's helped them access the services that they need right now.

I particularly want to thank Peter Pamouktsis, the headspace Bentleigh youth facilitator, a really impressive young man who was able to articulate, from a young person's perspective, the issues that he is facing and how he is going to address them, as well as, of course, helping others in providing an accessible pathway and a relatable contact point about the challenges that he faced. I also want to thank Emma Halpin, who is the clinical psychologist, who also came on and talked about management and resilient strategies that people can practise at home in this difficult time, making sure that, if they can't cope, they know that there's an entirely open pathway for them to get support and assistance. I also want to thank the headspace centre manager Jane Laidlaw. She, along with others at the headspace Bentley clinic bring together these services so that, when people walk in the front door and just need somebody to talk to and a pathway, that is available to them. They make us so proud. They are essential to meeting this challenge head on.

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