Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on the motion put forward by the member for Bass, and I thank her for bringing the matter before the House. Headspace is a fantastic service, and I've worked with headspace in Campbelltown in my electorate since it started in 2006. Headspace, of course, provides services for young people. In my outer metropolitan electorate it was very difficult for young people to access mental health support services until the advent of headspace, and headspace has been a wonderful addition to our health services. This, I'm sure, is true throughout the country. The work undertaken by headspace supports all clinicians and has been an excellent development. I thank Minister Pyne for his work in starting it, and I have spoken to him about this previously.

The present pandemic, of course, has impacted us all. I don't think there is anyone in this place that hasn't been impacted in some way by the pandemic. I worry a lot about the impact of this pandemic on young people, whose brains are still developing and who are suffering a lot of very difficult issues due to the uncertainty of the future, in terms of not only education but also jobs and services—indeed, the uncertainty of their futures. Those of us who have been around for a while know that we will get through this crisis and that there will be a functioning society at the end of it, but services such as headspace are vitally important in providing those supports for young people. Headspace in Campbelltown in my electorate are a wonderful service, and I have visited there often. They have always made me feel welcome, and I have listened to their concerns. It's paramount in these uncertain times that we stay connected. Telehealth was a good way people could stay connected with their physicians, with their services and with their clinicians.

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