By Mikayla Van Loon
A new Health and Wellbeing Centre has opened at Berwick College after years of trying to get funding.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin visited the centre on Thursday 24 February for a tour with Berwick College’s principal Kerri Bolch.
Having worked on the project for nearly a decade, Mr Battin and Ms Bolch were pleased to finally see their work in the flesh.
“Working with Kerri Bolch to secure this facility has been a long fight but is all worth it when walking through the building and seeing how well it will serve the school and wider community,” Mr Battin said.
Ms Bolch has been working with local and federal government members for a number of years to secure their commitment to the health and wellbeing centre in Berwick as an important addition to the local community.
“[This centre] could proactively address the critical health and wellbeing issues affecting the City of Casey and wider community and provide the best possible care for trauma, mental health and physical wellbeing for young people,” Ms Bolch said.
Mr Battin and Ms Bolch are both very passionate about youth wellbeing and mental health and originally started the project after a number of devastating youth suicides in the Berwick region.
“Youth mental health continues to be a huge area we must address in Casey and Cardinia, and this centre is just a start to assisting our youth in our community,” Mr Battin said.
The centre was committed to by the Liberal Coalition in 2014 but wasn’t matched by the Labor State government until 2018.
The $2.4 million contributed by both Labor and Liberal combined will ensure both current and former students have a safe place to access a wellbeing team, school nurse, Chaplin, a general practitioner and psychologist.
“Our Wellbeing Team is a well-regarded and established part of the school community, running programs that teach life skills and improve self-worth, resilience, confidence and community participation,” Ms Bolch said.
The centre is also meant to offer a space for the school to work with families and educate the community on the impact trauma can have on young people.
