Additional funding to support local Nillumbik youth affected by the Victorian bushfires
6 June 2010 An additional $20,000 will be delivered to Nillumbik Community Health Service to continue delivering essential counselling services to young people severely impacted by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. The Victorian Bushfires Youth Support Program will be extended until December 2010.
The Rudd Government continues to work closely with the Victorian Government to assist and support those impacted by the fires, with a key focus on support for young people.
Ms Macklin said that to date, more than $465 million has been committed towards the reconstruction and recovery effort, including $900,000 in May 2009 to provide counselling and recreational services for young people through the Youth Support Program.
“Nillumbik communities, particularly around St Andrews were directly affected by the February 2009 bushfires,”
“The men and women of our local CFA brigades from across Nillumbik such as the Eltham, Hurstbridge, Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill CFA Brigades were certainly on the front lines,”
“And there are many residents from across Nillumbik for whom the recovery process is still very much ongoing,”
“It is vital that we continue to help young people deal with the trauma caused by the bushfires by helping them re-connect and re-engage with their schools, their friends and their families,”
“Young people face a number of unique and complex issues that will require ongoing support,”
“This extension to the Program will help ensure they continue to get that support through counselling until new services being established by the Victorian Government and the Salvation Army become fully operational.” Ms Macklin said.
Media Contact: Antony Kenney 0411 311 131
|