Medicare Mental Health Centre offcially opens in Coffs Harbour

This week, the Medicare Mental Health Centre in Coffs Harbour will celebrate its offcial opening, signifying a signifcant boost in mental health support in the region.

Since opening its doors on 1 July 2024, the Centre, which is operated by Open Minds, has received 50 referrals, with many presenting with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and depressive disorders.

Coffs Harbour residents and visitors can access the Medicare Mental Health Centre via walkin, with no appointments or referrals necessary, completely free of charge for Medicare card holders.

The Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, was in Coffs Harbour this week to offcially open the Centre:

“The Albanese Government is building a network of Medicare Mental Health Centres so people can get free, walk-in mental health support and care, closer to home.

“The Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Centre provides a safe space for people on the North Coast to seek the care they need, in person, without an appointment.

“Our additional investment in the recent budget will see a clinical uplift so that every centre will have access to psychologists and psychiatrists on call.”

Monika Wheeler, CEO of Healthy North Coast, described the beneft the Centre will bring to the community:

“It is estimated that 43% of Australians will experience mental health distress at some point in their lives. When you are experiencing distress, it is really important to know where to go for support and know that a service is available locally to provide advice, support and connection to services that will help.

“It’s vitally important that we have a range of mental health services in our region that can be easily accessed in these times of need.

“The Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Centre is a welcome addition for residents looking for a tailored experience and connection to the right support for them and their circumstances.”

The Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Centre is staffed by mental health and allied health professionals. There is also access to a Social and Emotional Wellbeing Worker for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, with a focus on supporting care between the Centre and Galambila Aboriginal Health Service.

“If you’re not able to visit the Centre in person, I would encourage people to call the free Head to Health 1800 595 212 service.

Specialist staff can help assess your needs and connect you to care over the phone. This is also a great option for people seeking support, and I encourage our communities to spread the word about these much-needed support services,” added Ms. Wheeler.

Other info:

• The Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Centre is co-located with the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre, located in Block B of the Community Village (22 Earl Street, Coffs Harbour).

• Hours of operation are 8am-6pm Monday to Friday, with provisions in place for targeted/ appointment-based services for up to 4 hours on Saturdays.

• Medicare Mental Health Centres are not crisis or emergency services. For urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Mental Health Access Line on 1800 011 511. If you need immediate help or are at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 000 now.

COMPACT grants open for projects strengthening resilience and social cohesion

Community organisations can now apply for up to $200,000 per year over two to four years for programs countering hate, racism and division under the Community Partnership Action (COMPACT) Program.

The grants aim to build social cohesion by empowering young people aged 12- 30 to stand together against divisive forces as champions for our peaceful and harmonious way of life.

More than 80,000 young people across NSW have participated in COMPACT’s youthled solutions.

COMPACT supports partnerships and collaboration between community, nongovernment, youth, sports, arts/media, educational, industry and other organisations by providing grant funding for innovative, evidencebased community projects.

COMPACT was inspired by the way the people of NSW came together after the Martin Place siege in 2014. Since then, the program has responded to a series of challenges to social cohesion. The program has been independently evaluated as a frst-ofits-kind initiative that has pioneered a wholeof-society resiliencebuilding approach. It aims to foster social cohesion and inspire people to stand united against divisive forces and come together in times of need.

Grant applications close at 3pm, 29 August 2024.

For more information visit the Multicultural NSW website.

LEEMO’S PREHENSILE TAIL DREAMS

‘Leems, your tail has increased exponentially in both girth & u ness this Winter; (you look like ‘Flu y Bum’ the cat drawn by Spike Milligan’s daughter Jane.) It’s regrettable you can’t use your ne tail constructively apart from mood & intent; like hunger & desiring to bite my ankles. Oh, & fur shedding for me to clean up?’ (Oooh, ‘Mum Jane’ is in one of her picky moods. It’s ‘Leemo Cat’ back) ‘Leems, did you know some animals have PREHENSILE tails; ‘imagine if’ YOU had one. A Prehensile tail would enable you to grasp tree branches & swing (like a plump black u y 4 legged Tarzan) from one tree to another; just consider what fun that would be Leems? No painful claw climbing! (By the way, I found 2 claws in our vacuum so quit using them on rugs & stu . Gottit!) With a Prehensile tail, you could leap through the air and see our yard from a di erent view; or you’ll simply fall down & go ‘SPLAT’. Eeeek. Hmmm, I meditated with concern; ‘SPLAT? – OMG’ ‘Mum, what if I ‘try out’ of a Prehensile tail & I DO ‘SPLAT’ during a graceful Nureyev swing and you don’t hear me shriek?’ Her skinny feeble eyebrows rose; she said ‘go ask God Leems’; Crikey! I do so want a prehensile tail to ‘try out.’ ‘Mumsie, (suck up!) could you get me one of these Prehensile tails as a ‘trial’ perhaps, like on ‘approval.’ If I don’t SPLAT may I keep the tail.’ Well, her reply was most direct. ‘NUP, our budget is NOT really for frivolity or testing things. Gottit? AND, I might add Leems; one does not simply go to a shop & ask for a Prehensile tail to try out. (For an idiot cat.) One is born with one; I was born with an over-sized nose resembling a choko but was able to have it ‘reduced’ to allow me peripheral vision without a freckled choko blocking my view.’ Hmmm? ‘Well, frankly, Mum,YOU raised the subject of Prehensile tails so YOU explain more. ‘OK Leems, a Prehensile tail allows an animal to grab stu , & acts like an extra arm as well as a tail; it came about ‘cos of the impact of habitat in the world and allowed animals to use it to support their full body weight using only their tail, opening up new feeding opportunities in Aboreal environments. (I heard her murmur, with your weight Leems, they’re bloody dreamin!)

So, Leems, it’s a tail owned by animals living happily in trees; Monkeys, Sloths, Anteaters, Harvest Mousies, Opossums, Honeybears, Raccoons & so on and it comes in most handy. Gottit? SO, do you reckon YOU could live in a tree IF per chance you had a Prehensile tail Leems? You are a mega spoiled cat who only has to look at me to be patted, brushed, fed or taken out to play & watch ‘Bluey?’ Well? Truth time!’ I pondered. MEESIE living in a tree? e logistics need assessing. ‘Mum, how would I eat?’ Her reply: FORAGE Leems.’ (FORAGE? I don’t even know what it means.) OMG! ‘And if I get cold Mum?’ Reply: FIND THICKER TREE FOLIAGE Leems & watch out for Snakies & Crows.’ I’m not liking this idea at ALL any more; images of starvation, being cold, bitten or pecked & going ‘SPLAT’ were rife. NUP! I reckon I’ll keep my own tail a er all. Whew!

A close call! ‘Mumsie, pleease put ‘Bluey’ on our TV & bring treats & my best plush blankie.’ Nitey with purrsies, Leemo.