Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Minister McAllister. We know the events of 14 December have had a profound impact on our Jewish communities and people across Australia. What mental health support is the Albanese Labor government providing to those affected by the Bondi terror act?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This has been a difficult summer for all Australians, particularly the Jewish community and those who were at Bondi on 14 December. To those who were affected by the attack, I want to acknowledge the grief, the trauma and the distress that you are working through. Every Australian's heart is with you.

I also want to thank the mental health workers who have been supporting the people and the families who have been impacted by the attack. The work you do is often hard and always important, and I know that many of you have been managing your own grief while you are helping others.

As the Senate acknowledged yesterday in its condolence motion, the impact of the Bondi attack includes the trauma of the men, women and children who were injured physically and psychologically, including those who witnessed the horror. That is why our government is responding with formal mental health supports, responding promptly after that attack to deliver immediate assistance. The $42.6 million package is intended to help those most affected by this tragedy. It includes $14.2 million for targeted mental health supports for the Jewish community. This funding has been made available through organisations with established links to communities nationally, such as Jewish House and Jewish Care. A further $4.5 million has also been provided to primary health networks in the Sydney region and areas with significant Jewish communities. We've committed to establishing a Medicare mental health centre within the Bondi area. The centre will have a specific focus on trauma support and will provide free walk-in services. Work is well underway, and we expect operations to start next week.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cox, first supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the wake of such a traumatic event, coordinated support is critical. How is the Albanese Labor government working with New South Wales agencies and non-government organisations to deliver support?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cox. We know that this event may affect people in different ways, and it's why our package includes targeted support for particular cohorts in addition to the support that I have already mentioned. We've provided $5.6 million to the Black Dog Institute's National Emergency Worker Support Service. This provides an online mental health assessment and triage service as well as free psychological sessions with a particular focus on PTSD. 12 free sessions will be made available to any first responder, including lifeguards and other community members who responded to the attack. We've provided $3 million for targeted support to young Australians, and this will extend the hours of headspace Bondi and support headspace mental health training and education session to school staff, students, parents and carers in schools across Australia.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cox, second supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know the devastating impact the Bondi terror attack has had and continues to have on all Australians. How can people access support during this difficult time?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Violence casts a long shadow, and many Australians will carry the scars from 14 December with them for a lifetime. Lifeline, Beyond Blue, eheadspace, yourtown's Kid Helpline, and 13YARN have been provided a share in $7.6 million to scale up capacity and provide additional crisis support. Many who have visited the Bondi hub will have seen Lifeline teams on the ground, and I thank them for their ongoing assistance.

Support is available to all Australians, no matter where you are, through the Better Access initiative. Through the Better Access initiative, eligible people can access Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual and 10 group psychological services per calendar year. We are monitoring service usage and eager to hear from service users directly, and we stand ready to do more over time.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.