Connecting people & communities PAKENHAM
Incorporating South-East Star Real Estate
Thursday, 19 June, 2014
A Star News Group publication Phone: 5945 0666
Pakenham
Connecting people
40c inc. GST and communities www.
south easter
.com.au Thursday, 19
n
Playspace for all
Pooch pulled from fire
Lions’ streak rolls on
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
SPORT
June, 2014 Page
1
Propertyy Lift out
■ Mental health therapy to end as state funds cut…
Art rubbed out By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A LONG-RUNNING arts studio for people with mental illness is under threat due to the loss of state funding. Art Seekers Studios, which offers a free arts space led by a trained professional artist for up to 100 people a week, has operated in Noble Park and Pakenham for the past eight years. The Arts Access Victoria program’s annual $97,000 funding was cut after the State Government recommissioned funding for mental health services, including art therapy. Under the new funding model, the government reallocated the program’s funding to mental-health service providers such as ERMHA, Echo and United Church. Arts Access Victoria executive director Veronica Pardo said participants would be, at least for the time being, left without alternatives to the tight creative group from 31 July. There’s a “sense of family” among the group - “people come and support each other,” Ms Pardo said. Some members have been part of the artists’ club for several years, and they don’t have to talk about their illness, but simply make art. “They have come together and built that connection. Now this loss is causing a lot of distress among the group,” she said. Art has a subtle therapeutic effect on the participants, and one of the “tangible outcomes” was being able to tell one’s story, she said. “It can be hard to find the words to communicate to others. This is a way of expressing and sharing their experiences.” A spokeswoman for Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge said Arts Access Victoria did not put in a bid for
Art Seekers member Paul Hames with his work Sunbeam at an exhibition launch in Dandenong. 122110
Art Seekers member Ari Kioulafas with his work The Aegean Temple at Pictures: PAUL DUNN the exhibition launch at Heritage Hill. 122110 the recommissioned funding “despite being advised several times of the process and what Arts Access needed to do to be considered for further funding”. She said the government was in “ongoing discussions” with Arts Access Victoria about the outcome. “The process was designed to enable any suitably qualified provider to apply, including organisations currently providing services.”
She said the new model Mental Health Community Support Services would be tailored to individual needs rather than offering prescriptive programs. “No current clients will miss out on the services they need to manage or recover from their mental illness,” she said. The group is exhibiting at Heritage Hill gallery, Dandenong, until 22 June.
Art Seekers member Stephen Bell with his work John Lennon’s Wish at an exhibition in Dandenong. 122110
1140469-DJ24-14
03 5941 2277 120 Main Street, Pakenham VIC 3810
U
AR
AN
REIGN SUPREME with YOUR SUPER or NON SUPER INVESTMENT OUTSTANDING MARKET PERFORMANCE FOR 20 YEARS PROTECT YOUR SUPER. 10 YEAR GUARANTEED RENT WITH ZERO VACANCY
Phone our Berwick Home Office
SAFE SUPER HOMES
9702 2595
* general advice only
E victor@safesuperhomes.com.au www.safesuperhomes.com.au
1137780-EJ23-14
G
EE
TA EN L
T
R
1139663-EG25-14