By JESSE GRAHAM
MENTAL health and substance abuse services are a stone’s throw away from Healesville’s main street, after the re-opening of EACH’s former Rivendell building last month.
On Thursday, 11 June, community members gathered at 1 Badger Creek Road, next to the Healesville Living and Learning Centre, for the re-opening of the Healesville Mental Health Centre.
Carers, family members, and service participants joined residents for the opening, which Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) General Manager of Mental Health Recovery, Michael Janssen said was a “new start”.
Mr Janssen said that EACH’s funding had been reduced by about 50 per cent by the Victorian Government, meaning services had to be cut or altered.
“In some ways, the funding was in doubt – after 20 years of continuous funding, we had to re-tender, as did every part of Victoria,” Mr Janssen said.
“We were successful in winning funding, but we actually reduced our funding in the Yarra Ranges and, actually, in the whole outer east.”
But he said the group had tried to turn the negative into a positive, bringing in services and refurbishing the buildings in Healesville.
“There have been a lot of changes in the mental health sector and we took the opportunity of some of those changes to renovate the centre and give it a fresh feel and look and utility for the new funding model,” he said.
“I’m pretty sure … that we’ve got more staff here than we’ve ever had in the life of the centre.
“We are bringing new services here, as well, that we haven’t had here before, like gamblers’ help, drug and alcohol counselling for those who have those issues, and financial counselling.”
The facility was formerly named Rivendell, after the Elvish city in Lord of the Rings, where, according to an old EACH pamphlet, “people on long and difficult journeys find friendship, support and healing through music, storytelling and good company.”
Mr Janssen said that, though the services had changed, keeping mental health services running in Healesville and the Yarra Valley was important to support those living with health issues in the place they live.
“Transport is always an issue for people recovering from mental illness and seeking to rebuild and live meaningful lives,” Mr Janssen said.
“Whereas the trend is towards more centralised arrangements for these kinds of services, we remain committed to a presence in Healesville, a presence in Yarra Junction, so we’re able to support people in their local communities.”
“There will be people who still long after what used to be here for many years – there’s a great history here – but it’s a new start.”
