Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge one of O'Connor's most dedicated health professionals, Dr Sarah Youngson, who was recently awarded Community Health Professional of the Year at the WA Rural Health Excellence Awards. For more than a decade, Dr Youngson has served her Warren-Blackwood community not only as a general practitioner but as a tireless advocate for better mental health outcomes for young people. Sarah's work reminds us that, in regional communities, health care is never confined to the walls of a clinic; it is about trust, relationships and a deep understanding of your community.

Dr Youngson's award recognises her community health achievements in improving access to care in local schools, reducing wait times for families and her commitment to suicide prevention. She exemplifies that progress comes through collaboration between health professionals, schools, community organisations and families. That collaborative spirit is embodied in services like Blackwood Youth Action, which Dr Youngson helped establish and chairs. BYA has been a cornerstone of youth wellbeing in the Warren-Blackwood, providing counselling, outreach and practical support for young people aged 12 to 25.

I first met Dr Youngson in 2021 when BYA secured a Commonwealth volunteers grant for their op shop, which was their main income stream at that time. She advised me that BYA had recently failed in their bid for funding through the WA Mental Health Commission, but she had a vision for something like a headspace in the Warren-Blackwood. Sarah presented compelling evidence of the need for local youth mental health support and the latent mental health workforce in the region that could service a headspace. This resonated with me both as a parent and as a local federal MP, having witnessed the impact headspace has had in the Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern regions of O'Connor.

I also knew of the socioeconomic reality of the southern forests, with many communities experiencing unemployment and uncertainty due to the transition away from the native forest and timber milling industry that had sustained them for many generations. On her behalf, I made representation to the federal health minister, Mark Butler, and the WA Primary Health Alliance, outlining the demonstrable need and local capacity to deliver these services.

Fast forward to last week when I visited Manjimup and met Emily and Mark of Youth Focus for a briefing on the new headspace set to open mid-year. Dr Youngson sits on the board and will practice there, delivering free youth-friendly mental health care in the region. headspace management will work hand in glove with other local GPs and existing community volunteer organisations like Blackwood Youth Action.

I close by thanking Dr Sarah Youngson for her drive in creating Blackwood Youth Action and for her vision for a local headspace and congratulate her on her well-deserved accolade of Community Health Professional of the Year.