Federal government to prioritise mental health support for flood victims

Well being Minister Greg Hunt says the main focus of help will likely be for kids via the nationwide youth psychological well being basis Headspace.

However there may even be help for adults by way of the first well being community in every space.

“Any pure catastrophe can produce deep trauma, each momentary and long-lasting, and in order that’s why the early motion is immensely necessary,” he mentioned on Friday.

Studying from the aftermath of the Black Summer season bushfire catastrophe, Mr Hunt mentioned the federal government is supporting community-led resilience and restoration applications.

Throughout the flood-affected zone, $3 million in group resilience grants will likely be made obtainable.

A member of the Australian Defence Power helps with the flood cleanup in Lismore. Supply: AAP / JASON O’BRIEN/AAPIMAGE

Major well being networks — 5 in Queensland and 5 in NSW — will obtain $20 million, the majority of which is meant for psychological therapies.

Mr Hunt says these therapies will present higher entry to psychological help for individuals affected by trauma, nervousness, despair, PTSD or different associated situations.

However Labor chief Anthony Albanese criticised the federal government’s refusal to increase catastrophe help funds to different shires affected by flooding.

“This disaster requires an applicable response from the Australian authorities, a response that’s as robust because the response and resilience that we have seen from the native communities themselves,” he advised reporters within the northern NSW city of Murwillumbah.

“The additional catastrophe help that’s being given in Lismore is an efficient factor. There is no such thing as a motive by any means why that should not additionally apply right here within the Tweed … in Ballina and in Byron.”

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In the meantime, Prince Charles has issued a message of help for flood-stricken communities, saying he and spouse Camilla have been “struck by the appalling pictures”.

“These floods, together with the ferocious bushfires in Australia that shocked the world simply over two years in the past, remind us all that excessive climate occasions have gotten way more widespread,” he mentioned in an announcement.

“Local weather change is not only about rising temperatures. It is usually concerning the elevated frequency and depth of harmful climate occasions, as soon as thought of uncommon.”

The federal government has been criticised for its response instances in coping with the flooding disaster however Defence Minister Peter Dutton mentioned Australian Defence Power (ADF) troops couldn’t have been deployed extra shortly.

He advised the 9 Community the federal government had individuals and belongings pre-positioned and planners appeared on the circumstances in Queensland and NSW to resolve the place they need to be deployed.c

An aerial view of Lismore through the peak of the flooding on Monday 28 February 2022. Credit score: BRADLEY RICHARDSON/PR IMAGE

About 7,000 ADF troops will likely be in affected areas by Saturday night time, with almost 5,000 in NSW and 1,300 in Queensland already.

Defence personnel are conducting welfare checks, meals distribution and serving to with disaster-relief clean-up efforts.

To date, 490,000 individuals have claimed federal catastrophe funds value greater than half a billion {dollars}.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet with Governor-Normal David Hurley afterward Friday to advise him on declaring the primary nationwide emergency.

The declaration will likely be made regardless of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk indicating the state didn’t want the measure.

The prime minister mentioned there had been a misunderstanding over the impression of the nationwide declaration, which might don’t have anything to do with the move of funding.

The nationwide declaration permits the federal authorities to entry stockpiled assets and take away pink tape by way of enterprise and welfare help, he mentioned.

It’s the first time such a declaration will likely be made because the legislation solely got here into impact in 2020 following the Black Summer season bushfires.