After a successful pilot program was run in Townsville, Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling will now roll out its community and peer program across Australia.
It is enormously relevant to towns such as Seymour with their strong military histories and ongoing connections with the Australian Defence Forces.
Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the program was a sign the government took the wellbeing of veterans and their families seriously.
‘‘The government is putting veterans and their families first and is committed to ensuring they have access to the mental health support they need,’’ Mr Chester said.
‘‘The primary aim of the program was to enhance the management of complex and high-risk clients in the region, particularly those vulnerable individuals considered to be at risk of suicide.
‘‘It has demonstrated lived-experience mental health peer workers within Open Arms could enhance the management of vulnerable clients.’’
Mr Chester believed the program would reach those veterans who were struggling but still unwilling, or unable, to ask for help because of the stigmas surrounding mental health.
The community and peer program will be rolling out to all states and territories throughout 2019.
For more information go to openarms.gov.au
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