BERWICK
berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 11 March, 2021
@StarNews_SE
/berwickstarnews
40¢ Inc. GST
Wellness centre a long time coming
Combined clean-up for the planet
Local rises to Ultimate Tag challenge
Our top fundraiser from Narre North
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
PAGE 7
PAGE 8 12476975-LB02-21
SIGN UP NOW!
Colour abounds in season’s change And just like that, we’ve slipped from summer into autumn. You’ll feel it when you visit Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick, where the leaves are beginning to put on their seasonal colours. Spend a few hours walking through to refresh and recharge the batteries.If you stand still enough, one of the park’s resident bird or turtles might pop up for a chat! Turn to page 17 for more
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Mental health fix By Danielle Kutchel Local politicians have welcomed the recommendations handed down in the final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. In total, the report makes 65 recommendations to improve the struggling system. Some of these include the provision of beds, establishment of new local, area-based and statewide support services incorporating crisis response, collaboration with helpline services, the establishment of community collectives for mental health in each local government area, the establishment of mentally healthy workplaces, support for mental health programs in schools and provision of support
across all age groups. The State Government has committed to implementing every recommendation in the report. The report also uncovered a system riddled with problems, including inequitable access to services, an overreliance on medication as treatment, an under-supply of community based services and a system that was struggling under the weight of demand. Gary Maas, member for Narre Warren South, said the handing down of the report in a special sitting of Parliament at the Royal Exhibition Building on Tuesday 2 March was “a very special moment”. “To be there and hear so many power-
ful stories as to why this Royal Commission needed to be held, it was really something to behold,” he said. He said the State Government has long recognised the issues in the Victorian mental health system and associated sectors like social housing. “The last piece of the puzzle is our mental health system. I think it really brings together the complete picture, and I truly believe that the system will change. “It’s been widely acknowledged that it can’t just be fixed by needs a complete redesign.” A key recommendation of the report was around the provision of care locally, so that people experiencing mental ill-health don’t
NEED HELP WITH AN INTERVENTION ORDER?
Will & Affordable and Compassionate
03 9562 1855 155 Sladen St, Cranbourne
12387046-EPJ16-18
Serving Melbourne for over 75 years
OPEN FOR BUSINESS ! Now in office consultations
Deceased Estate Lawyers
Online Consults still available
Preparation of Wills and Power of Attorney Kit
CONTESTED WILLS
Prompt and expert preparation of probate applications
Hundreds of successful cases on no win–no fee basis
CALL (03) 9707 0566
need to visit the city to obtain the care they need. Mr Maas said it was important “to be able to bring resources that are needed to the places where the people that need help are”. He said that local support agencies like Cranbourne Information and Support Service have been providing mental health assistance in the absence of targeted services - but the $870 million set aside in the last State Budget would help to immediately implement the recommendations of the report. Welcoming the report, Liberal MP for Gembrook Brad Battin said it contained some “good recommendations”. Continued page 2
www.nealcollinlawyers.com.au
www.manningsfunerals.com.au 12484675-JW11-21
Pakenham, Narre Warren, Drouin and Yarra Junction P 5941 5166 12481552-NG07-21