Page 1929 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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The Committee recommends the ACT Government prioritise making more mental health treatments, of the kind young people are currently required to travel interstate to access, available in Canberra.
There were also, very strongly coming through in the evidence, major concerns raised by parents about being shut out of the discussion when it comes to the care of their children, especially when they reach certain milestone ages: 16 or 18. The committee was really concerned that the closest network to these young people was perhaps missing when it came to discussing the ongoing care of that young person. In reference to that point, recommendation 39 recommends that the ACT Government fund more accessible and free counselling and mentoring services for young people between 12 and 25 years.
It was also a bit of a surprise, at least to me, that some young people were not able to access government services in this space by the mere fact that they did not attend a government school. That is why the committee recommended, in recommendation 9, that “the ACT Government also provide access to school-based mental health resources and expertise to non-government schools, where there is a demonstrated need.”
We spoke specifically to the concerns raised by Galilee in recommendation 10, recommending “that the ACT government consult with the Galilee School on the support they need as they work with young people’s mental health issues”.
This was an important inquiry and it was clear from the evidence that the committee received that, despite a lot of work happening in this space, including the office of mental health, it was still necessary.
I thank all witnesses but especially those who took the time and built up the courage to speak to the committee about their lived experiences, whether they lived through the issues themselves or as a loved one who was there supporting someone and seeing some of the enormous challenges that our young people went through.
I thank my fellow committee members—the chair, Mr Pettersson; and the deputy chair, Mrs Kikkert—and everyone at the committee office who pulled together, especially during the challenging period of COVID, to work on this report. A special shout-out to our committee secretary, Sarah McFadden. I tip my hat and say congratulations on her first inquiry and report; she has now cut her teeth. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MS J BURCH (Brindabella) (11.01): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure. On Thursday, 20 September 2018, the Legislative Assembly resolved that
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