Funding the phoenix

By Kath Gannaway
At a celebratory morning tea in Yarra Glen on Thursday, Ms Dickson thanked Premier Ted Baillieu for the Coalition Government’s commitment to the project, and its swift honouring of that commitment.
The YVPP was established after the 2009 bushfires with practitioners volunteering their time to provide free counselling, health and business support in bushfire-affected communities.
“The project was on the verge of closing in December and I really didn’t want to be facing January with that in mind,” she said.
“We had the money in the bank on 31 December and that ensured we could be here through 2011,” Ms Dickson said.
Mr Baillieu spoke to the many YVPP supporters and volunteers, saying the project had made a difference.
“We have here an extraordinary group of people who came together to offer a service to a group of people in genuine need,” he said.
“What has been so good about this project is that it has reached out into communities and provided allied health services and support on a voluntary basis.
“To all those who stood up for this program, you have our appreciation,” Mr Baillieu said.
Ms Dickson said the funding would enable the YVPP to expand its existing services to Marysville and nearby Murrindindi communities and also to expand the school program.
“It is important that we are now able to build strength and resilience,” she said adding that they would now need to look at how the services should evolve.
“In the third year there are very different needs,” she said. There is no one recovery plan, each individual needs a unique recovery plan and we will work with those individuals to see what their unique needs are.”