IN a letter to the Victorian Health Minister, Independent Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed, has sought to highlight key health priorities ahead of the upcoming State Budget.
Funding for stage 2 of Goulburn Valley Health’s expansion and Shepparton’s Early Parenting Centre are Sheed’s main concerns.
“Shepparton missed out on Early Parenting Centre funding in 2020, but Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Frankston, Casey, Wyndham and Whittlesea were given $123 million.”
“New parents have little support available locally after they start their families. Such a centre would make the world of difference to parents and allow them to adjust to parenthood in the community instead of travelling to Melbourne at such a busy time in their lives.”
More mental health services, $25M for a Clinical Health School to grow the healthcare workforce, and partial funding for Shepparton’s Integrated Cancer Centre, to provide care to vulnerable residents in the community, have also been highlighted to the Minister.
“Stage 2 of the hospital redevelopment is a substantial project, but planning has been done to allow for a staged development process, starting with the urgent infrastructure to accommodate sufficient mental health services for our community.
“In regional areas, where resources are stretched, mental health should be at the forefront of health funding in the 2022/2023 State Budget.”
