The Wuchopperen Health Service will be able to provide additional family counselling services in Edmonton, Bentley, White Rock and Gordonvale with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing and family violence, thanks to a $356,832 grant from the Coalition Government.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said that Wuchopperen Health Service Limited would receive funding to provide family counselling services through until 30 June 2019.
“Improving the safety of Indigenous families and communities is one of the highest priorities for the Coalition Government ? and this investment will enable Wuchopperen Health Service Limited to provide additional support to people who need it the most,” Minister Scullion said.
Minister Scullion said that through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS), the Government was providing targeted investment to those working on the ground to make a difference in the lives of First Australians.
“This project is a great example of the Coalition working with Indigenous Australians to improve outcomes for First Australians living in Edmonton, Bentley, White Rock and Gordonvale.” Minister Scullion said.
Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said that as a White Ribbon Ambassador, he welcomed any investment in initiatives that would help local families to tackle domestic and family violence.
“Family violence has a devastating impact on our community but organisations like Wuchopperen are doing great work at a grassroots level with culturally appropriate education, prevention and support services,” he said.
“Strong communities begin with strong families so I’m really pleased that Wuchopperen will receive this funding to boost the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of Far Northerners.”
Wuchopperen Health Service Chief Executive Officer Debra Malthouse said the opportunity to deliver place-based, culturally competent services that improved the safety and wellbeing of the organisation’s clients was a welcome addition to the health service’s Edmonton Clinic.
“As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health service we recognise the impact that social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing has on the physical health of our clients and our integrated service model will be enhanced by this funding.
“It will enable us to expand our social and emotional wellbeing service in the Cairns southern corridor by having permanently based staff at our Edmonton Clinic,” Ms Malthouse said.
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The Wuchopperen Health Service Limited project is one of 43 recently funded under the IAS. Services have been funded to provide intensive support to Indigenous people most affected in the following areas: alcohol and drugs, domestic violence, mental health and wellbeing, and youth offending.
Existing service providers will share $18,697,510 million in Government funding through until 30 June 2019 to transition from the Indigenous Community Links programme to new place-based, intensive support services that address specific safety and wellbeing needs. A further $4,239,664 million will be provided until 30 June 2019 for new services in areas where a safety and wellbeing service gap has been identified.
The final year of funding is dependent on the projects providing strong outcomes for their clients.
Providers will be asked to collect service data to assess the impact of the service, to better understand what works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage and contribute to the evidence base.
