Rochester Community House has received support for a mental health program.
Rochester Community House recently received a $20,000 grant to support its one-on-one mental health support program, Heart to Heart with Bern.
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The grant is part of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s In a Good Place program, which supports projects and services that focus on strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of community members.
RCH manager Amanda Logie said the funding was welcome support for the Heart to Heart program.
“It's a service that we provide to the community for free, and it's been booked out constantly, so it’s a much-needed service,” she said.
“It’s a program that doesn't have continual funding, so we're always seeking funding for this particular program, and funding for staffing is one of the most difficult things to actually obtain.
“Funding a lot of the time, particularly through government providers, is short-term after disaster... trauma goes on much longer than that.”
RCH counsellor Bern Wright has been working with the community since January 2023, following the 2022 floods.
Having a counsellor who is a staple in the community has meant residents don’t have to retell their stories to multiple people and relive the trauma.
While the need for her services continues two-and-a-half years later, support through government disaster funds is often short-term, resulting in a constant search for funding.
Kyabram Club board member Mark Schumann, Rochester Community House counsellor Bern Wright and Kyabram Club manager Ben Offord. Photo: Emily Donohoe.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
The $20,000 grant from FRRR, combined with a generous donation from the Kyabram Club, will mean greater security for the program and ongoing support for the local community.
Ms Logie said the need for the program continued as the impacts of floods were far-reaching.
“(The need) is still continuing because it's not just about the floods,” she said.
“Life goes on and people have different things happening in their life... there are different impacts that are felt by the community that (Ms Wright) can certainly support with.”
If Ms Wright is not the right person to provide support, she is also able to refer residents to someone better suited to help.
For more information about the program, contact Rochester Community House on 5484 3600 or email rochy@communityhouse.org.au
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