CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms RISHWORTH (Kingston—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (09:33): I have had a long-term passion for supporting people to have good mental health. As a clinical psychologist before I entered this place, it's been a long-term passion about how we can uplift the mental health of our community—their mental wellbeing and resilience. As a member of parliament I hear all too often that people are not always able to get the mental health support that they need when they need it.

We have heard about some of the barriers. Where I live in the outer suburbs of Adelaide, access to services can be very difficult. I recently visited my local headspace, which was something I campaigned on many years ago, and I've seen that headspace continue to go from strength to strength, expanding its services and connecting with young people.

But there continues to be a gap in the services available. So I was so pleased to be with the assistant minister to announce that in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, in Onkaparinga, there will be a new Medicare mental health walk-in clinic. This concept is a really important concept, because it fills a gap that is there—you can walk in and get support when you need it.

That early access is so critical. It can stop distress turning into a long-term, chronic mental health problem. Being able to have that access in our local community will be so important, and I'm so pleased.

The other announcement that was made by the assistant minister is equally important: a new perinatal mental health centre. We know that both men and women do often suffer mental health stress and, indeed, mental illness before the birth of a baby, during the birth of a baby or after. It is a very big, life-changing experience that is so wonderful for many, but it comes with a lot of strain and can lead to significant issues, like depression and anxiety.

So having a perinatal clinic that is available for new and expectant parents as they transition into parenthood—and then, of course, after that—is so critically important. This will provide specialised support in those critical months following the birth of a child, helping families build confidence and ensuring that they are able to be in a good place of mental wellbeing.

These are critically important investments, they do fill a very important gap in our mental health system in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, and I am pleased that the Albanese government is investing in these services.