Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I love doorknocking in Swan. Last week, we were doorknocking in Cannington, and the team met a fabulous woman called Laura, who is a phenomenal mental health advocate. Laura works for Consumers of Mental Health WA, the state's peak body run entirely by people with lived experience of mental illness. She also helps run the Listening Lounge, a free peer support group where people can turn up exactly as they are and be met by people who have lived experience.

Laura told us that this kind of peer support had made a real difference to her own life, and it's why she now dedicates some of her time to helping others access this kind of support. She told us that the same sense of welcome is what her colleagues described about the new Medicare mental health centres open all across Western Australia. We have these in Mirrabooka, Northam, Armadale, Gosnells and Midland, and soon we will have one in Belmont as well.

The Albanese Labor government has done this because we want to lower the barriers to make it easier for people to access mental health support. People don't require a mental health treatment plan or a referral, which makes it easier to actually go in and speak to a professional. Hearing from people like Laura is a reminder that what we do is really important and makes a strong impact in this community.

Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.