Concerns over "dire" regional mental health services
Right now, many rural Australians are grappling with the impacts of drought, floods and other natural disasters.
But despite the added strain, there's a significant shortfall of mental health assistance available, driving calls for federal and state governments to de-centralise regional mental health services, to give local communities more control.
FEATURED: Associate Professor Mathew Coleman, Chair of Rural and Remote Mental Health Practice at the University of Western Australia.
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News.com.au
21 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Politics in front of people': Great in awe of ‘powerful words' as boss explains roadblock to Devils' stadium alternative
Devils chief executive Brendon Gale says the 'no stadium, no team' condition for Tasmania's AFL entry remains crucial, stressing Hobart and Launceston's major venues are still 'not fit' to 'underpin a team in the big league on a sustainable basis'. Gale on Fox Footy's AFL 360 on Tuesday night remained defiant his club was still 'on track' to enter the AFL in 2028, despite a state government bombshell this week casting doubt over the Devils' future. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Wednesday morning was hit with a no-confidence motion, which will continue to be debated in state parliament on Thursday. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Opposition leader Dean Winter, who filed the no-confidence motion, wrote to AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon amid the parliamentary chaos on Wednesday and reaffirmed the Labor Party's support for the new Macquarie Point stadium build and the Devils' entry into the AFL. But Winter's move was based off claims the Rockliff Government had mismanaged the state's budget and bungled key infrastructure projects, including the proposed stadium. Should Rockliff fail to stave off the no-confidence motion, it's possible Tasmania will be pushed to a snap election, which could derail the new stadium plans and put the 19th AFL licence in jeopardy. The AFL on Wednesday reiterated it remained steadfast that a 'clear requirement' for Tasmania's inclusion is 'a new 23,000 seat roofed stadium at Macquarie Point'. That agreement is between the AFL and the state government, with the stadium needing to clear passage of both Houses of Parliament. Premiership Brisbane Lions coach – and Tasmanian football hall of fame legend – Chris Fagan said the AFL 'should let the team come in and then sort the stadium out' in the long-term, saying the Devils should just 'use facilities that are available' in Launceston and Hobart. 'It would be such a tragedy if the team itself doesn't go ahead because there wasn't a new stadium when there are other football fields down there that AFL footballers currently play on,' Fagan told the Herald Sun. 'The surfaces are fantastic. 'But I think it is only a noisy minority who don't want it (new stadium) anyway. The vast majority of Tasmanians I think do want it. 'Once you have the team in there, then these things become easier.' When asked on Fox Footy's AFL 360 if the 'no team, no stadium' policy to introduce Tassie was 'too ambitious' and that 'too many stumbling blocks' had been placed in front of the key stakeholders, Gale said: 'No, I just think it's been a difficult concept to explain. 'Firstly, there's no good time to build a stadium around the world. They're always big and they're expensive, and there's always a whole range of other priorities … Whether it's Adelaide or Perth Stadium, they're difficult to get through and get popular support. 'I guess that's compounded by the fact that people in Tasmania think: 'Well, we've got two perfectly good stadiums in Hobart and Launceston, why can't we just have those?' And they're reasonable stadiums and they've been fit for purpose. But they're not fit for the purpose of providing sustainable commercial business model to underpin a team in the big league on a sustainable basis. 'It's hard to explain in seven or 10 seconds, but once you do have the time and space to explain, you know, why it is important – and then also the whole range of other benefits that will be created and will be unlocked – people tend to come around. But it's not easy.' The anguish of the impact of the political turmoil on the Devils was personified on Wednesday by club general manager of marketing, corporate affairs and social impact Kath McCann – the Devils' longest-serving official – who broke down in tears at a press conference. 'This club is powered by our future generations, by our kids and by our grandkids,' a teary McCann said. 'It's an opportunity to bring this state together, it's an opportunity to create pathways. 'I've got 50 students out here in my sight line, they power us every single day — and they will keep doing that and we're going to play on. We want to see this team become a reality because our young people deserve it.' Premiership Eagle Will Schofield was blown away by McCann's passion and 'powerful words'. 'This is more than just a footy club. This is something for an entire state, an entire generation of Tasmanians coming up behind it,' Schofield told Fox Sports News' AFL Tonight. 'It's a real instance of politics getting in front of people. This is a move that's going to change the state – and the football followers specifically in Tasmania, the people. So whether it be adults now or kids in future generations, being able to put this stadium together and this team together, it's more than just a game of footy. 'The cheques and balances will get done, but what's really sad is it seems like politics is getting in front of the people – of which I think a lot want this stadium and this team to come through. 'Knowing how big a football state Tasmania is, it'll be really sad for that to be lost.'
SBS Australia
25 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Why this historic home saved from demolition could hold the key to a 'lost' Chinatown
Victory House, the historic 1906 home of a Chinese-Australian goldfields family, has been restored and will reborn as a museum in Ballarat. Funds to first build the home were won in an early Melbourne Cup (sketch top right). Source: Supplied, AAP Victory House, built in 1906, was home to a Chinese mine manager family in Ballarat. After being saved from demolition, the house is being transformed into a Chinese heritage museum. Community leaders aim to revitalise the surrounding area into a Chinatown, restoring Ballarat's once-vibrant Chinese presence from the gold rush era. By 1858, Ballarat's Chinese population had peaked at nearly 10,000, accounting for about 25 per cent of the adult male population. Community groups say the restoration of a 120-year-old house is the first step towards establishing a Chinatown in Ballarat to mark the contributions of thousands of Chinese workers drawn to the area both during and after the gold rush. Located at 742 Geelong Road in the Ballarat suburb of Canadian, Victory House was built in 1906 by Chinese mine manager James Wong Chung and his wife, Margaret Wong Chung. Interestingly, the funds — 400 pounds ($17,560 in today's money) — to build the house were won by Margaret after picking the winner named Victory in the 1902 Melbourne Cup. The family lived in the home for more than a century, until it was sold in 2008. Now, plans are underway to convert the restored house into a Chinese heritage museum — the first step in a broader, 10-year plan to revive Ballarat's historic Chinatown. Local Chinese community leader Charles Zhang and the founder of the Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library, Haoliang Sun, led the restoration of Victory House. Sun said the Canadian suburb, where Victory House stands, once had the highest concentration of Chinese miners in Ballarat and was home to six Chinese village camps. Those communities have long since vanished. "Other than the Chinese gold rush display at Sovereign Hill, there's no place in Ballarat today that shows how the Chinese actually lived during that time," he said. Historical records indicate that by 1855, there were approximately 2,000 to 5,000 Chinese miners on the Ballarat goldfields. By 1858, the Chinese population had peaked at nearly 10,000, accounting for about 25 per cent of the adult male population in Ballarat. To bring that history back to life, Sun and Zhang have purchased several buildings on the same street, with more deals in the works. Their vision is to create a precinct that includes a Chinese medicine shop, teahouse, Chinese restaurant and Asian supermarket — what they refer to, for now, as a Chinatown. "We're calling it Chinatown, but the name doesn't really matter," Sun said. "What matters is that a space like this must exist." Zhang acknowledges that building a Chinatown is a bold and complex undertaking — one that will require significant support from local, state and federal governments. "Restoring one house can be done by one or two people. But rebuilding a Chinatown takes a whole team," he said. "It's not something that can be done just out of passion or impulse." Still, Zhang, now in his 70s, remains optimistic. "I hope that in my lifetime, I can devote my energy and ability to doing something meaningful for future generations of Chinese Australians — to keep our history and culture alive." The Victory House museum is currently awaiting council approval to open to the public. Ticket proceeds will go toward the museum's ongoing maintenance. For the first time since its renovation, sisters Denise Johnston and Julie Odgers returned to Victory House, their great-grandparents' former home in Ballarat. Walking past the thick cypress hedge in the front garden, Johnston, 77, said she no longer felt the fear she had as a child. "It was always dark … when the wind would come through, it was really like a haunted house," she recalled. But once they stepped inside, they were greeted warmly with open arms and homemade biscuits. "I felt really emotional when I entered. It has just brought us these beautiful childhood memories," Johnston said. The house was named after the 1902 Melbourne Cup-winning horse Margaret had picked. "Our great-grandmother (Margaret) loved horses. When we come to visit her, she'd be sitting here listening to her radio and reading the racing guide," said Odgers, 75. But sadly, no one in the family has won a race since, she added. The Wong Chung family's Australian story began with James's father, Ah Wong Chung, who migrated from Canton (now Guangzhou) in the late 19th century during the Victorian gold rush. He ran a general store in Linton, supplying goods imported from China to both Chinese and European miners. In 1868, he married Irish woman Mary Anne Baker. The couple had one son, James, the future builder of Victory House. James married Australian-born Margaret Ann Holderhead in 1896. After having six children in Linton, the couple moved to Ballarat in 1903, initially living in a small miner's cottage. At the time, James was managing the nearby Woah Hawp Canton Mine. In 1906, the family moved into the newly built Victory House and welcomed another six children. In 2022, Victory House narrowly escaped demolition when new landowners applied to redevelop the site. Four Ballarat councillors argued the home wasn't significant enough to preserve, given the city's abundance of historic buildings. But after an outpouring of support, including from over 120 Chinese-Australian organisations and descendants of the Wong Chung family, the house was saved and placed on the Ballarat Heritage Register. Mick Trembath, Odgers's son and a sixth-generation descendant, said the restored Victory House held meaning far beyond his own family. "There are very few things in Ballarat that are not only genuine reminders of Chinese culture, but any contributing culture, (including) the Croatian people, Polish people and the German people," Trembath said. "To have something like this … You can walk through it, touch it, and fill it with memories. It's a really important thing. "I was really happy that we were able to save it." Share this with family and friends
News.com.au
31 minutes ago
- News.com.au
No Liberal concession call after Bradfield turns teal
Gisele Kapterian has still not picked up the phone to concede Bradfield after Nicolette Boele broke the Liberals' iron grip on the key Sydney seat, the independent has revealed. The Australian Electoral Commission on Wednesday declared Ms Boele the winner in Bradfield after one of the longest, messiest races of the federal election. A recount found the Climate 200-backed candidate won the seat, which has been in Liberal hands since its creation, by 26 votes. Ms Boele said on Thursday her win was 'certainly' by a slim margin. 'It's one of those times when you realise that every single vote counts,' she told the ABC. Asked if she had heard from Ms Kapterian, Ms Boele said: 'Um, I haven't, no. 'It's been a very busy, whirlwind sort of last few hours since we got the decision from the electoral commission after 4.5 weeks of counting and recounting. 'So, no, I have really just been talking to people, having a small celebration, and I'm looking forward to, I suppose, getting on with the job.' Ms Boele was initially declared victorious in Bradfield but an administrative error was uncovered and dramatically cut her lead. Ms Kapterian then led by eight votes, triggering a total recount late last month. The tight count did not stop her being welcomed into the Liberal party room and even partaking in the leadership vote that elected Sussan Ley party leader. Reacting to the result on Wednesday, Ms Kapterian thanked the AEC and her scrutineers, saying the recount process was 'testament to the adage 'if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together''. 'This recount has created a different result – while I was ahead at the conclusion of the original count, Ms Boele is now ahead after this recount,' she said in a statement. 'I will now carefully review the two counts.' Losing the seat has further slimmed the Liberals' numbers and dealt a major blow to the party's standing in North Sydney. In her Thursday morning remarks, Ms Boele said the result showed the 'electorate's definitely changing'. 'Modern Bradfield is much more diverse,' she said. 'We're definitely conservative in terms of loving business and economics, but we're very outward looking. 'We love the environment. We care about people. And those kind of care values were just not being addressed by this brand of the Liberal-National coalition.' She added that voters 'were looking for better representation' and an 'independent like me, born and bred here, someone of the community, working for the community and not for party politics' fit the bill.
