The Scenic Rim might be next in line for $75,000 worth of mental health funding.
At today’s Scenic Rim Regional Council meeting, all councillors voted to apply for a one-off grant funding program to deliver tailored, localised, programs that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the Scenic Rim community.
Councillor Virginia West says she welcomes the opportunity.
“This will be very welcomed this funding from the State Government,” Cr West said.
“And certainly with all of the challenges our community has faced over the last few years, mental health and well being is really so much more at the forefront of people’s minds these days.
“So it will be great to be able to build on it.”
At the annual Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) conference in October 2020, the Queensland Premier announced $3.5 million for localised mental health responses to regional councils, offering grants of up to $75,000 for 45 eligible councils.
Scenic Rim has been included as an eligible regional Council and has been invited to
submit an application, which closes on 12 March 2021.
This is a non-competitive grant program and requires no co-contribution from Council. This funding is part of the $46.5 million Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Package under Queensland’s Economic Recovery Strategy.
- Grants can be used to fund initiatives based on any of the five following options or a combination of options:
- Programs that enhance mental health and financial capability
- Programs that revitalise the local economy
- Upskilling individuals within the community to enhance wellbeing and increase mental health and wellbeing and suicide prevention literacy
- Community outreach programs
- Community events that bring people together and re-establish community connectedness
To address the broader health and wellbeing needs of a diverse and geographically dispersed community, Council proposes to host community connector hubs and outreach programs at various township locations across the Scenic Rim, including Beechmont, Tamborine, Kooralbyn, Rathdowney, Kalbar, Harrisville and Peak Crossing, in conjunction with the new Mobile Library Services.
Previous community health surveys have identified a number of key issues including:
• Mental health has an impact on people’s social isolation and feelings of loneliness;
• Previous disaster events have had a compounding impact on people’s ability to stay connected and to seek help;
• Access to local and regional supports is difficult due to the lack of transport options;
• Male farmers are identified as high risk of experiencing social isolation;
• Financial stress has a significant impact on social connection;
• People transitioning out of hospital are at high risk of social isolation;
• Increase in the use of technology such as devices are seen as both a solution and a hindrance to community connectivity;
• Knowing what services and how to access them was of high concern; and
• There is great confidence and trust in the local Council as key to connecting communities.
Each hub will have food and refreshments and the events will be extensively promoted using social media, mail outs to local residents, targeted emails to local networks and local newspaper advertising.
