Coalition delivers new counselling team for Casey
Residents of Melbourne's South-East growth corridor can now access a new drug and alcohol support and counselling service funded by the Victorian Coalition Government.
Visiting an established Therapeutic 4Cs (Counselling, Consultancy and Continuing Care) team in Pakenham today with the Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region Inga Peulich, the Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge announced an equivalent service will be established to support residents in the City of Casey.
"The Coalition Government is delivering $2.4 million over four years to establish the new Therapeutic 4Cs team in Cranbourne," Ms Wooldridge said.
Ms Wooldridge said Therapeutic 4Cs teams provide people facing alcohol and drug issues with a range of services, including social work, psychology, alcohol and drug addiction services and family therapy.
"Delivering counselling and support services where they are needed most is a significant challenge as metropolitan Melbourne's population continues to expand.
"It's with this in mind that a Therapeutic 4Cs team was established in the growth area of Pakenham in the Shire of Cardinia in 2011 and we are now establishing a new service in Cranbourne in the City of Casey," Ms Wooldridge said.
The Therapeutic 4Cs teams in both Pakenham and Cranbourne will be run by the Stepping Up Consortium, which includes Interact Australia, Odyssey House, Taskforce and Youth Projects.
Ms Peulich said that mortgage and financial stress, gambling and isolation are issues facing rapidly growing populations such as Pakenham and Cranbourne.
"We know issues of stress of any kind can often be a trigger for alcohol or drug use, however, with some support at the right time, many people can overcome and manage their problems," Ms Peulich said.
New 4Cs will also be established in the Barwon-South West region and Melbourne's outer east.
