One less mental health service in Wonthaggi

AN important mental health service had to close its doors in Wonthaggi on Friday, July 8, an area that can little afford to lose such services.

The office of ‘Within Australia’ provided outreach services across a wide area of Bass Coast and South Gippsland, from Cowes to Toora, and also in-office programs at 85 Watt Street, Wonthaggi.

Typically these services included one-on-one support for those with mental health needs, as well as social and activity programs, including such things as a photography course.

Up to 50 local clients, more than half of them living in the South Gippsland Shire, have been displaced by the shutdown, caused not only by the loss of a key contract with the Gippsland Primary Health Network (PHN), but also as a result of a fragmentation with NDIS services.

It is understood that six or more local staff have been impacted, including a counsellor, on site at Wonthaggi until May this year, site manager, support coordinator and program staff, with qualifications in mental health support and other disciplines.

They packed up the office and cleared out by lunchtime on Friday.

The firm will however assist clients transitioning to new services, including Disability Connect Victoria, which has an office in Warragul email http://info@dcvic.com.au, phone (03) 90524470, (03) 70235919, or web: https://www.dcvic.com.au/

The decision to shut the Wonthaggi office, as a result of the financial collapse of the Gippsland-wide business, still came as a shock despite staff knowing about the trading difficulties from mid-May.

The PHN contract funding, which was worth upwards of 25 per cent of the not-for-profit’s revenue, and underpinned the service generally, finished on June 30, but attempts at attracting a replacement contract, or a buyer, ultimately failed and Within Australia had to close.

It leaves 60 staff redundant at offices in Bairnsdale, Sale, Traralgon and Wonthaggi and more than 400 clients with mental illness and disability to find another provider.

Within Australia, which started in Gippsland in the early 1990s, went into voluntary administration in May and liquidation last week.

Gippsland ABC Radio spoke to a client of the service who said it was going to be difficult to make the move to another service provider.

“I'm not looking forward to having to negotiate other things. When you've got a group of people who have empathy, they can provide as much mental health benefit as your psychologists or psychiatrists,” he said.

The Bairnsdale resident, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, attended five sessions at Within Australia each week.

The administrator appointed to wind up the business, Adam Nikitins, confirmed that the loss of a key contract from the Gippsland Primary Health Network was the last straw for the organisation.

Another service makes a pitch

Adrian Bradley, General Manager Corporate Affairs at Advanced Person Management and its subsidiary MyIntegra, has also made a pitch for the Within Australia clients and staff.

“MyIntegra, a subsidiary of human services provider APM, is seeking to minimise disruption to 300 Gippsland NDIS participants and 30 staff impacted by the closure of the not-for-profit provider Within Australia,” Mr Bradley said.

“Within Australia has gone into administration and will cease all disability services from July 8, this includes support coordination that helps connect NDIS participants with vital community supports.

“This will affect 300 Gippsland residents in towns like Wonthaggi, Sale, Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Morwell and Rosedale. About 30 staff are also impacted.

“To help ease the impact of this closure, MyIntegra is offering all Gippsland participants the opportunity to continue receiving support coordination immediately, and after 8 July.

“In addition, support coordinators from Within Australia can apply for roles with MyIntegra so they can continue to support Gippsland participants.

“MyIntegra already provides plan management support to hundreds of participants in the Gippsland region, and has a deep understanding of the local area.

“If NDIS Participants in the Gippsland region would like to get support coordination from MyIntegra please contact 1300 937 187 or email http://withinaustralia@myintegra.com.au.”

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said the loss of a mental health support agency was regrettable.

“At present we are focussed on an expansion of mental health services for Bass Coast and South Gippsland with the four health services in the region working together to advocate for this,” Ms Child said.