Member for New England Barnaby Joyce announced funding worth $1.5 million over four years for headspace on Tuesday afternoon, saying there had been a political discussion about headspace needing more money and today we have got it.
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"This funding allows a demand driven program for vitally important mental health assistance, to address the high rates of youth suicide that we find ourselves needing to deal with, not only across New England, but across our nation," Mr Joyce said.
We've fought for it and we've got it and it's something that can be delivered upon now.
- Barnaby Joyce
"It allows the capacity for shop space, it allows basically shop access for people who need this service, and it also allows referrals by doctors and social workers for those who they believe are in need of this service.
"So, a great outcome for Armidale, and a great outcome for New England. This is an announcement for today, it's not an election promise."
Mr Joyce said he did not want this as an election promise.
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"I think it is more important than that. We've fought for it and we've got it and it's something that can be delivered upon now," he said.
"It comes on the back of another item I'm fighting for at the moment for Armidale, which is further radiation services to go with such things as cancer treatment. I believe Armidale deserves them."
"There are 30 new sites they are going to roll out across the nation. I'll be fighting hard to get one of them in Armidale too."
Mr Joyce said while the radiation services had not been delivered yet, the headspace funding would help our youth deal with such issues as depression and other issues that tended to go hand-in-glove with other problems such as a drugs.
"This allows our younger people the capacity to get support services to assist them to cope with these sorts of problems," he said.