Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 9 April 2019, this government committed $3.4 million to headspace in Kempsey to provide much-needed mental health services to the youth of the Macleay valley. After 2½ years of delays I was very happy to finally be advised that the building works were finally underway to fit out a fit-for-purpose building at the headspace Kempsey location, which will soon be open. Despite the lengthy delays, the expansion of youth service has provided youth mental health services to 58 young people, and it has 73 active clients at present. It is also pleasing to hear that partnerships are at the advanced stages of being formalised to ensure the four core streams, including mental health, work and study, physical and sexual health, and alcohol and drugs, are in place.

It is vitally important that the whole range of services are available to the youth of the Macleay valley—a place where they can go and, if they need help, talk about the social, physical and emotional changes that affect so many young people in today's society. I look forward to attending the opening of headspace Kempsey on 14 March 2022 and working with the Samaritans for the benefit of our youth.