❓ Mrs. Stojkovski, on behalf of the member for Kimberley, inquired about progress in improving mental health services for young people in regional communities like Fitzroy Valley and how partnerships with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations enhance cultural connections. The Minister detailed funding and programs at Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre.
AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARNINWARNTIKURA WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTRE —
FITZROY CROSSING
198. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I ask my question on behalf of the
member for Kimberley who is not able to be in the chamber at this time. I refer
to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to improving social and emotional
wellbeing for Aboriginal people in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the progress to improve mental health services for
young people in regional communities such as those in Fitzroy Valley?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the delivery of health services in partnership
with Aboriginal community–controlled organisations allows for better
connections with Aboriginal culture?
FITZROY CROSSING
198. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I ask my question on behalf of the
member for Kimberley who is not able to be in the chamber at this time. I refer
to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to improving social and emotional
wellbeing for Aboriginal people in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the progress to improve mental health services for
young people in regional communities such as those in Fitzroy Valley?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the delivery of health services in partnership
with Aboriginal community–controlled organisations allows for better
connections with Aboriginal culture?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Kingsley for her question on behalf of the member for
Kimberley. I want to acknowledge the member
for Kimberley's advocacy and connection to her community. In
particular, we went last year to visit Marninwarntikura Women's
Resource Centre in Fitzroy and met with people there. It is an organisation
that is highly regarded and has been led by successive strong female leaders,
including June Oscar and Emily Carter, the current chief executive. They are a strong
and powerful voice for women, certainly in Fitzroy. The work they are doing at the
moment includes partnering with the University of Sydney to conduct
groundbreaking research into foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the impact of
intergenerational trauma through the Lililwan Project and the follow-up
Bigiswun project.
We know that a high proportion of
young people in Fitzroy have experienced trauma in their early lives, and they also live with neurodevelopmental
disabilities. We understand the lack of assessment and services that are
available in those remote communities. As a result, too many young people in
the community have symptoms of anxiety and depression and suicidal ideation.
They have simply not been able to move out of those symptoms and achieve their
goals. We heard loud and clear from Emily herself that young people in Fitzroy want access close to where they
live to improved services that are culturally safe, including mental health, emotional and social wellbeing
support. We also heard that in order for this to be successful , it has
to be driven by the community for the local community. That is why I am pleased
to say that Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre has received $835 000
to deliver more services to young Aboriginal people. Informed by Aboriginal
people and extensive research conducted in partnership with the community, this
model is new and it will provide opportunities for cultural connection and
create an environment that enables young people living in Fitzroy to heal, be
healthy and be supported to achieve their goals.
The pilot will bring a combination of
cultural and clinical expertise in the facilitation of referrals. MWRC has a clinical
neuropsychologist onsite and it will provide a culturally safe and place-based
assessment of cognitive disorders. These are practical supports to assist young
people to navigate the cultural, systemic and language barriers that prevent
them from accessing broader government and health services. These are critical
to providing positive functioning and wellbeing for these young people.
A range of activities in this program
are co-led by young people. These activities foster empowerment and provide
opportunity and connection with culture to heal on country. Connecting
vulnerable people with services that consider the unique cultural, linguistic
and geographic context of the Kimberley region serves to protect and promote
their social and emotional wellbeing. As the Minister for Mental Health, I am
committed to working with Aboriginal people and Aboriginal-controlled
organisations to co-design and support services that are led and delivered by
them.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : The
member for Central Wheatbelt with the last question.
thank the member for Kingsley for her question on behalf of the member for
Kimberley. I want to acknowledge the member
for Kimberley's advocacy and connection to her community. In
particular, we went last year to visit Marninwarntikura Women's
Resource Centre in Fitzroy and met with people there. It is an organisation
that is highly regarded and has been led by successive strong female leaders,
including June Oscar and Emily Carter, the current chief executive. They are a strong
and powerful voice for women, certainly in Fitzroy. The work they are doing at the
moment includes partnering with the University of Sydney to conduct
groundbreaking research into foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the impact of
intergenerational trauma through the Lililwan Project and the follow-up
Bigiswun project.
We know that a high proportion of
young people in Fitzroy have experienced trauma in their early lives, and they also live with neurodevelopmental
disabilities. We understand the lack of assessment and services that are
available in those remote communities. As a result, too many young people in
the community have symptoms of anxiety and depression and suicidal ideation.
They have simply not been able to move out of those symptoms and achieve their
goals. We heard loud and clear from Emily herself that young people in Fitzroy want access close to where they
live to improved services that are culturally safe, including mental health, emotional and social wellbeing
support. We also heard that in order for this to be successful , it has
to be driven by the community for the local community. That is why I am pleased
to say that Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre has received $835 000
to deliver more services to young Aboriginal people. Informed by Aboriginal
people and extensive research conducted in partnership with the community, this
model is new and it will provide opportunities for cultural connection and
create an environment that enables young people living in Fitzroy to heal, be
healthy and be supported to achieve their goals.
The pilot will bring a combination of
cultural and clinical expertise in the facilitation of referrals. MWRC has a clinical
neuropsychologist onsite and it will provide a culturally safe and place-based
assessment of cognitive disorders. These are practical supports to assist young
people to navigate the cultural, systemic and language barriers that prevent
them from accessing broader government and health services. These are critical
to providing positive functioning and wellbeing for these young people.
A range of activities in this program
are co-led by young people. These activities foster empowerment and provide
opportunity and connection with culture to heal on country. Connecting
vulnerable people with services that consider the unique cultural, linguistic
and geographic context of the Kimberley region serves to protect and promote
their social and emotional wellbeing. As the Minister for Mental Health, I am
committed to working with Aboriginal people and Aboriginal-controlled
organisations to co-design and support services that are led and delivered by
them.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : The
member for Central Wheatbelt with the last question.
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