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Latrobe Community Health Service Awarded $20,000 By Victorian Coalition Government

• Latrobe Community Health Service has received $20,000 in funding for its Family Support Program • Victorian Coalition Government committed to providing opportunities to improve skills and knowledge

By Russell Northe - 29th August 2014 - Back to News

„h Victorian Coalition Government supporting Victoria¡¦s mental health workforce

Latrobe Community Health Service has received $20,000 through the Victorian Government¡¦s Rural Workforce Innovation Grants Program, Member for Morwell Russell Northe said today.

The grants program recognises innovative practices in rural and regional mental health and alcohol and drugs services.

Mr Northe said Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) had been granted funding for its Family Support Program, which expands and develops the role of alcohol and drug clinicians to provide family support services. The funding will also be used to increase consumer participation in implementing alcohol and other drug reform action plans.

"Latrobe Community Health Service provides an integrated and co-ordinated approach to the delivery of health services within the Latrobe Valley community to enable people to live healthier, live better, and live longer,¡¨ Mr Northe said.

CEO of Latrobe Community Health Service, Ben Leigh said LCHS was always looking for opportunities to upskill staff and improve service to the community.

¡§This grant is a welcome contribution to that task,¡¨ Mr Leigh said. ¡§Ultimately, it's families in Latrobe who will benefit.¡¨

Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge said nine rural and regional mental health and alcohol and drugs service providers across the state would share in $130,000 worth of grants funded by the Victorian Coalition Government.

"We know that mental health and alcohol and other drug service delivery can be particularly challenging in country areas due to geographic distances and recruitment and retention challenges,¡¨ Ms Wooldridge said. ¡§These grants aim to address those problems by sharing new and effective ideas.¡¨

Ms Wooldridge said rural providers had developed creative and effective ways of working and learning in order to meet the community¡¦s needs for quality services and that these were worth sharing with others.

"It is important to recognise, capture and share this creativity. That is why the Victorian Coalition Government is supporting services to showcase and share better work practices across rural and regional areas.

¡§Under this initiative the case studies will be shared across Victoria for the benefit of mental health and alcohol and drugs services,¡¨ Ms Wooldridge said.

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