Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the funding for 25 Safeguards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams and said they will be a vital addition to communities across the region.
“The new multidisciplinary teams will be established across the state, providing rapid and flexible community care responses to children and adolescents in acute mental health distress.” Ms Cooke said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor announced the specialist child and adolescent mental health teams would be running in every Local Health District within the next four years.
“We’re committed to improving the health and safety of our young people and these teams will be on hand 7 days a week to respond to acute cases and make sure those families are supported during this time of need and after,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This is a game changer in addressing mental health for children and teenagers.
It’s all about bringing the right care at the right time and in the right place to children, adolescents and their loved ones,” said Mrs Taylor.
Mrs Taylor said the ‘Safeguards’ teams will provide community based support to help children, teens and their families coordinate all aspects of their care.
“These clinicians will work with patients and their families over days, weeks or even months, providing wraparound support at home and school, as well as facilitating access to follow-up care as required.”
“The objective is to get these kids better before things worsen, or if needed, transition them into longer term mental health community based supports.”
Skilled child and adolescent mental health clinicians will also help families in coordinating other aspects of their children’s mental health needs by linking them with appropriate services as needed such as GPs, private psychiatrists, headspace centres, education and vocational supports, NDIS providers, youth organisations or other needs such as housing providers.
