Mental health services will continue in bushfire-affected communities now that East Gippsland Shire Council has secured $1.335 million in funding under a Resilience and Recovery Program 2022 grant.
Council has entered into an agreement with Gippsland Primary Health Network (Gippsland PHN) to provide an extension of funding until 30 June 2024. This will enable trauma counselling to be provided by Relationships Australia Victoria and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), and for a social-outreach program to be delivered by the RFDS for bushfire-affected communities.
The program is jointly funded by the Victorian and Australian governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. It aims to strengthen mental health and resilience and rebuild and better protect communities affected by the devastating 2019-20 Victorian bushfires.
