Liam McNally
Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation in Melton has received funding to provide its first government funded mental health counselling service specifically for Aboriginal people in Melbourne’s west.
The Department of Health and Human Services has delivered a one-off payment to Kirrip, which will allow them to employ three councillors for three months.
For the last five years, Kirrip has been providing some counselling on a volunteer basis, and Kirrip chief executive Peter Webster said the organisation is “very excited” to be able to bolster the service.
“We’ve not had any paid mental health counsellors for Aboriginal community in the west before. I’ve been arguing for this funding for some time.”
“It’s particularly important for kids living in out of home care who are traumatised, but it could be for just about anything and we’re now able to support the community with this free of charge to them.”
Lita Kerr is a qualified counsellor, who has previously been employed by Kirrip in admin, and said she is excited to move into a paid counselling position.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity that Kirrip can provide this councelling to Mob for free,” she said.
“It’ll be great to meet the demand of people when they require it instead of having to wait.”
A DHHS spokesperson said the funding comes as a part of a decade-long mental health system reform.
“…we are working hard to ensure our new mental health system provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with access to safe, inclusive, respectful, and responsive services they deserve,” they said.
“This investment will deliver social and emotional wellbeing supports for the Aboriginal community in Melbourne’s western metropolitan region.”
