MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton says a team of dedicated Riverina locals has made excellent progress with introducing an early intervention youth suicide prevention program.
“There are some people who are just sick of hearing about youth suicides in our region and have stood up to do something about it,” Mrs Dalton said
“Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia is a mentoring program for people aged seven to 17.
“It’s doing great things in regional Victoria and we really want to get it up in the Riverina.
“We’d like to be able to start in Griffith, then be able to expand to Leeton, Narrandera, Hay, Hillston, Moama, Balranald, Wentworth and Deniliquin.”
The Murrumbidgee region has among the highest suicide rates in Australia and Mrs Dalton said more services were needed for young people in distress.
Her office has helped set up a local advisory group that is working hard on raising $55,000 to employ a youth co-ordinator in the town.
RAAF Flight Lieutenant Michael Borg is chair of the advisory group and he is supported by Rachael Veenhuizen, Val Woodland, Trish Leonard, Michele Harvey, Kate Hardman, Filomena Pingiaro and Sue Hone.
“The great thing is we’ve got youth representatives on our committee too: Paige Goudie, Alice Ryan and Imreet Singh,” Mrs Dalton said
“You can’t start a youth program without young people having their say on how things should run.”
The advisory group is planning a gala fundraising event for April.
It has also applied for a grant under the Federal Government’s Building Resilient Regional Leaders program.
“People can also make a donation to help get this program off the ground,” Mrs Dalton said.
“We have a guarantee that all money raised for the Riverina must stay in the Riverina.
“So many parents have come to me and said they felt they’ve had nowhere to turn when their teenager was suicidal.
“We need to do better and we will.”
Anyone wanting to help get Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia in the Riverina off the ground should contact Mrs Dalton’s Griffith office by email at murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au or call 6962 6644.
For crisis assistance, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
