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The Morrison Government is investing in innovative strategies to address the barriers preventing people with mental illness in Caboolture from finding and keeping a job. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Government has committed an additional $45.7 million to extend two programs dedicated to helping young people with mental illness join the workforce. The funding will be used to double the number of headspace sites running the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support Program to 50 and to support headspace National to continue the Digital Work and Study Service. “A job is a game-changer and that is why the government is so focussed on helping people to get into work,” Minister Ruston said. “This program has never been more important given we have seen young people disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in terms of jobs losses which we know can compound the mental health impact so many are feeling as a result of the pandemic.” Member for Longman Terry Young said an Individual Placement and Support Program will now be run at the Caboolture headspace thanks to the additional government investment. “The program is a tailored approach that can help improve job outcomes for young people with mental illness,” Mr Young said. “This is fantastic news for the local community because we know career assistance hand-in-hand with clinical support can make a profound difference in the lives of young people and ensure they can reach their full potential.” Professor Patrick McGorry, executive director of Orygen which runs the program with headspace, welcomed the Government’s commitment to making a real lasting difference in the lives of people who face barriers to work. “The onset of mental illness often occurs in young people which, by the age of 25, can significantly affect their ability to transition from study to work,” Professor McGorry said. The expansion of the Individual Placement and Support Program will allow more than 6000 youth under the age of 25 experiencing mental illness across Australia to receive specialist vocational and employment support in tandem with clinical treatment to find and keep a job over the next four years. Photo by fauxels from Pexels

I am holding two forums in February for local veterans – in Caboolture and Bribie Island. Special guest is Phil Thompson OAM MP, a war veteran and the Federal Member for Herbert. Numbers are limited to book your place early. Caboolture forum: February 5, 10am-11.30am; at Sports Central Caboolture (formerly Caboolture RSL), cnr Hasking St and Beerburrum Rd. Bookings: trybooking.com/BNXYA Bribie Island forum: February 5, 1pm-2.30pm; at Bribie Island RSL, 99 Toorbul St, Bongaree. Bookings: trybooking.com/BNXZF

Congratulations Charli Godden from Elimbah who won a national art award in the 2020 Young Australian Art Awards. Charli won the Commonwealth Bank Art Award for her entry Beachscape in the Junior Painting section. There were 30,000 entries from around Australia. Well done Charli!

The Morrison Government this week announced an additional $11.6 million to assist mature aged workers with the extension of the Skills and Training Incentive. Extending the Incentives program to 30 June 2022 is part of the Government’s commitment to ensure mature aged people, particularly those impacted by COVID-19, have better options to remain in the workforce longer. The Skills and Training Incentive provides individuals aged 45-70, who have completed a tailored Skills Checkpoint assessment, with funding of up to $2,200 to invest in training linked to their current job, a future opportunity, or an industry/skill in demand. It will encourage ongoing investment in the skills development of older Australians. The individual, or their employer, will be required to co-contribute to the cost of training, which can be either accredited or non-accredited training. The additional investment in the Skills and Training Incentive will provide up to 5,400 Incentives for eligible mature aged Australians. This builds on the $19.3 million allocated as part of the 2018–19 Federal Budget’s More Choices for a Longer Life package, which funded the initial allocation of Incentives. More details HERE.

The Federal Government is delivering safer local roads through the Black Spot program and is investing $703,000 for new traffic lights at this  intersection. The project was nominated by Moreton Bay Regional Council due to a history of serious crashes at the intersection. There is a history of vehicles travelling west in Lomandra Drv failing to give way to vehicles travelling south in Graham Road, often due to visibility restraints. Traffic lights at this intersection will address these concerns. Main Roads says the project should be completed in April 2021.

On Saturday I attended the official opening of Caboolture Cricket Development Centre in Morayfield. It was good to see all levels of government, including the Moreton Bay Regional Council and State Government join with the Federal Government to contribute to this project – along with Cricket Australia and the Caboolture Sports Club. Local cricketers will have access to a brand new indoor 5-pitch training centre which will become a beacon for cricketers right across the region. The nearest similar facility is about 50km away. And the nets are retractable too, which means groups can use the space, like for bocce, indoor bowls, dance classes and so on. Any investment that encourages participation in sport in our local community is an investment that is worth making.

The Morrison Government has committed $300,000 to the Fishers for Fish Habitats in the Maroochy River and Northern Moreton Bay Project to assist in restoring the health and functionality of coastal and estuarine fisheries habitats. Member for Longman Terry Young said the project, under the Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program, is one of 28 projects across the country to share in $8 million of grant funding. “This is a collaborative and strategic drive to improve the once-thriving fish stocks of the popular Maroochy River, Pumicestone Passage and Deception Bay waterways,” he said. “It will enhance fish habitats through bank stabilisation and mangrove rehabilitation along Burpengary Creek and restore in-stream shellfish habitat in the Pumicestone Passage. “The project will be delivered by Healthy Land and Water with support from Ozfish and local recreational fishers.” Work will also be carried out in the Maroochy River canelands, Coolum Creek Wetlands, and Maroochy estuary. Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said these projects would benefit recreational fishers by improving the health and productivity of habitats that support fish stocks and fisheries. “Australia’s waterways are some of the best in the world,” Assistant Minister Duniam said. “It’s critical we keep our fisheries habitats healthy so we can continue to enjoy our world-class fishing into the future. “This program will benefit Australia’s natural resource base and the broader community – especially our recreational fishers. “We will be funding 28 projects across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australian and Tasmania. “This funding will see Regional Land Partnership providers and recreational fishing groups partner in rolling-up their sleeves to directly improve fish habitats. “Together, they will work on surrounding vegetation and biodiversity in marine and estuarine areas, from tropical mangrove wetlands in Queensland, to building shellfish reefs on Kangaroo Island and restoring fish habitat damaged by moorings in southern Tasmania.” The Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program is a 2019 government election commitment to provide $8 million to restore the health and functionality of coastal and estuarine fisheries habitats.

When the #COVID19 recession first started to hit, Ian at Caboolture Crash Repairs thought he was going to have to lay off at least four of his employees. Our JobKeeper program meant he could keep his team together, and now they’ve seen their business pick back up and are taking on more staff. One of the apprentices at the visit had just started at the business the previous week and was loving the job. Just one of the many inspiring stories of how our economic plan is creating jobs and supporting businesses to grow out of the COVID recession.

Work has been completed at Elimbah State School on their new playground equipment and outdoor multi-purpose court under the Local Schools Community Grant. The school received $20,000 in federal funding for the project which cost $22,845 in total. Principal Leisa Wood said she and the students were delighted with the new equipment and multipurpose court and it was great to get out to the school, meet up with Ms Wood and check out the completed project.

The Woodford Golf Club received $12,500 from the Stronger Communities Grant program to help fund construction of a new carpark. Club president Patrick Atee showed me around the new facility and it was great to see the safety improvements.

I recently visited the Woodford Show Society to chat with president Val Reichle and vice president Peter Ostman about their new chairlift and air-conditioning for the office. The group received $4000 from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Grant to help pay for the two items. Val and Peter showed me around their facilities and told me how much of a difference this chairlift in particular would make in their daily operations. Sadly COVID-19 put an end to this year’s show, but the society is determined to put on an event next year the whole community can enjoy.