By Holly McGuinness
Youth wellbeing officers will be hired by Brimbank council in a bid to improve access to mental health services in the municipality.
Council will create two full-time youth wellbeing officer positions within its youth services unit, as part of a two-year mental wellbeing plan adopted during a council meeting on Tuesday, August 16.
The officers will be employed until 2024 at a cost of $436,170, according to a report presented to the council meeting. Council plans to use savings and unallocated COVID-19 funding to fund the positions.
Council will assess the position after two years to determine whether to continue the roles in the long term.
The officers will focus on developing supportive partnerships with schools, community groups, mental health services and sports groups to help young people and their families access mental health services.
They will also work to build young people’s skills for improved mental wellbeing and support them to advocate for better mental health services.
Mayor Jasmine Nguyen said the officers would enable council to expand and better support mental health and wellbeing for young people.
She said young people frequently raise concerns about mental health with her.
“Not only has it been challenging for young people and their families to [access] dedicated mental health services, the demand exceeds the need required,” Cr Nguyen said.
Cr Sarah Branton said her lived experience of mental health helped her recognise the importance of the roles.
“To hear that local government is now going to provide resources for people like me who didn’t get them, I have really enjoyed that,” she said.
The mental wellbeing plan is based on a council-commissioned mental health research report which identified three core focus areas for council to help improve the mental health of residents.
The plan aims to combat service demand for mental health services, improve access to services and advance the education surrounding which services exist in Brimbank.
