The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, has launched a petition to call for the Federal Government to fund a headspace service in Kiama.

The petition follows a negative response from the Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, to Mr Ward's initial request for funding for this to happen.

headspace is the Government's flagship program for the provision of services for young people aged 12-25 experiencing, or at risk of, mental illness. It is a trusted model of care that is recognised by young people, their families and communities for providing youth friendly mental health support.

At the moment, Kiama is covered by the Wollongong headspace office, with young people able to access services there or in Nowra. Its services can also be accessed online and through its app.

Last year, given the spate of suicides, Kiama youth approaching the service were given priority to overcome lengthy delays in being able to access face-to-face services.

“This facility could provide vital support services to those who are vulnerable as well as to educate local young people 12-25 years on suicide prevention and the importance of youth mental health," says Mr Ward.

headspace provides assistance on a wide range of fronts, such as relationships, vital counselling for those at risk, drug and alcohol support services, work and study support, and putting young people in touch with local employment opportunities.

“There are support services currently available however it is my view that these services are poorly coordinated," says Mr Ward.

“If we want young people to access these services, they need to be able to trust the people running these services and this often takes time, effort and coordination.

“We have a responsibility to do everything we possibly can to provide the necessary access to services and support for vulnerable at-risk young people."

Mr Ward stresses that this call for Federal funding is in addition to all of the measures put in place by the State, through its local health department, the council and community bodies to improve youth mental health since the events of last year.

"This is about providing a vital service that is on offer in other parts of the state to allow people to get this specialist support locally," he says.

"Young people don't necessarily trust people who turn up after an event. You've got to build that trust, and that is what headspaces that are in a community have the opportunity to do."

He says he is open to the service being provided as a dedicated office or as a satelitte of an existing office.

Sam Hall, a public space artist who grew up in Jamberoo, says, "Young people don't want to have to go to Wollongong or Nowra if they are 13 and yet they might not want to go to their parents. Having somewhere here that is a safe space to go would really help.

"We can't be reactive any more, we've got to be proative.

"It is about creating that whole environment where kids aren't afraid to be seen as struggling."

He believes social media is inducing stresses that older generations never had to deal with.

"I work in schools a lot, and you can feel the pressure. You can't escape things and go home.

"In working with SENTRAL [Council's Youth Service], I've seen what a great support it has been in working with kids by being somewhere to go and have a talk."

The sustained increased demand for SENTRAL's services has brought with it young people with very high needs for support with crisis management around issues like homelessness, mental health, drug use and youth justice. Anti-social behaviour by a few resulted in Council closing its popular drop-in service while it undergoes a strategic study on the provision of its services.

"The case load is enormous," says Mayor Mark Honey.

"It is not the sort of work that a youth worker in a small local government area should be doing."

Council's Director Environmental Services, Jessica Rippon, welcomes the call to set up a local headspace facility.

"We have a very close collaboration with headspace already, but one of the issues the young people of Kiama do face that a lot of their outreach services are located in Wollongong or Shellharbour, and that makes it a little difficult for them to get there.

"We would certainly be encouraging any of those services to be located in Kiama.

"We are considering the need for those outreach services as part of our strategic review of SENTRAL."

In his letter to Mr Ward, Minister Hunt said, "While I appreciate the value of being able to access face-to-face headspace services, the young people in Kiama region are able to access eheadspace. This is a free, confidential, and anonymous telephone and web-based support service for young people aged 12-25 years with, or at risk of developing, mild to moderate mental illness. Further infornation on eheadspace is available online at: www.headspace.org.au or on 1800 650 890."

Mr Ward’s online petition is now available to sign on his website at www.garethwardmp.com.au and at his electorate office at 102 Terralong Street.