Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council has been granted $300,000 to address suicide in Halls Creek and Tjurabalan.
Tjurabalan is a determined native title claim that includes the communities of Ringer Soak, Billiluna, Balgo and Mulan.
You can read a media release from local member Melissa Price and Indigenous Affairs minister Nigel Scullion here:
Media Release
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Senator the Hon. Nigel Scullion
Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory
Member for Durack
Melissa Price MP
21 March 2014
Investment in suicide prevention in Halls Creek/Tjurabalan
The Australian Government is supporting efforts to reduce suicide in Indigenous communities in the Halls Creek/Tjurabalan region with funding of $300,000 to the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council.
The funding, from the Community Development Fund, will support the Suicide Prevention Service and will also create employment, with 10 Indigenous people to be employed on the project.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and the Member for Durack Melissa Price said today a key priority for the Government was to help reduce incidents of self-harm and suicide among Indigenous people.
“The Community Development Fund provides funding to organisations to deliver projects that support social and economic development and participation in remote communities such as this project in Halls Creek,” Minister Scullion said.
“The fund assists service providers, employers and community organisations to deliver rewarding community activities and create new jobs.”
Ms Price said the project in Halls Creek will benefit local Indigenous residents by building the capacity, skills and resilience of individuals and communities to help reduce incidents of self-harm and suicide, and respond to crisis events in a timely and professional manner.
“The project is intended to develop community residents as community facilitators so that trained people in local communities are able to respond to incidents of suicide and self-harm in the future,” Ms Price said.
“The prevalence of suicide amongst Aboriginal people in Durack is a matter that I have recently raised in Parliament, with a particular focus on the ongoing crisis in the Kimberley region.
“I welcome the Abbott Government’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous affairs and to the Durack Electorate, as we continue to work with the community on the serious issue of suicide.”
- End -
