Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Cutting the bright green ribbon not only signalled the official opening of Kiama headspace; it celebrated the resolve and resilience of a close-knit community that has had to bear way too much loss. It was a really special community celebration when the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, and I stood alongside the young people of Kiama who have helped shape this essential service. Tuesday 15 October was a day for the community to come out and share a few laughs, to consume way too many colourful doughnuts and to be thankful to the Albanese government for providing young people with access to free mental health care and support.

I'm so thrilled to see this service up and running. I have been fighting on behalf of the community to establish headspace in Kiama, which also supports our young people living in Gerringong, Jamberoo and surrounding villages. The youth in the region previously had to travel to Nowra or Wollongong to access headspace services, so a dedicated headspace in Kiama is helping to alleviate these barriers.

Headspace Kiama supports local schools, youth and mental health services that have wrapped their arms around young people and the community following the tragic loss of young lives to suicide. There has been no greater need for this facility than in Kiama, which is why I fought so hard for it.

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