Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has called for funding in the upcoming federal budget to build the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub.
Mr Birrell and Shadow Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Bridget McKenzie met with project stakeholders in Seymour on Friday, April 21.
Seymour Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Nexus Primary Care are all stakeholders in support of the project.
The hub would be located at the site where Seymour’s library is, providing an integrated approach to healthcare for Seymour residents.
The centre would include services for domestic violence, general mental health, veterans services, health promotion services and community dental.
Seymour Health chief executive officer Ward Steet said a no wrong door policy and user-friendly location meant there would be less stigma attached to accessing services, improving health outcomes.
“Someone walking in the front door may be getting a coffee at the internet cafe, going to the library, going to a community meeting or they might be getting counselling for community violence, but nobody would know,” Mr Steet said.
The Building Better Regions Fund, which would have financed the project, has been cut in the budget, with the details of alternative regional funding that could be used for the hub yet to be announced.
Mr Birrell said he has been advocating for the project in parliament, pushing for a timeline for funding to be secured so the project could get under way.
“I’ve been in the minister’s office explaining this particular project and how important it is,” Mr Birrell said.
“I have asked in question time when will we be getting funding for this and the answer is ‘soon’. That doesn’t tell me much.”