Senator visits

THE Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing was out in Cranbourne last Friday to promote local mental health programs.
Senator Brett Mason visited a new program at St Therese’s Primary School in Cranbourne before meeting with respite workers at Wresacare.
He was out in force in the Holt electorate to support Liberal candidate for the federal seat Emanuele Cicchiello.
Mr Cicchiello said it was good to be able to show Senator Mason the great work being done locally on mental health issues, including the new program at the primary school called KidsMatter.
“The KidsMatter program, which is partly funded by the Federal Government and Beyondblue, has been put together in an effort to improve the mental health and wellbeing of students and will provide greater support and assistance for students experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression and behavioural problems,” Mr Cicchiello said.
Senator Mason, along with Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield, also heard about innovative programs under way at the Eastern Region Mental Health Association in Dandenong, as well as the respite programs run by Wresacare in Cranbourne.
“The programs being run by the Eastern Region Mental Health Association and Wresacare, like the KidsMatter program, are playing an important role in helping the local community deal with issues surrounding mental health,” Mr Cicchiello said.