By Bronwyn Hastings

Wimmera Southern Mallee Alliance is advocating for government investment in a comprehensive, regionally co-ordinated mental-health model for the region.

Leading the charge, Hindmarsh Shire Council will submit a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria’s October 23 State Council, asking for advocacy for the establishment of a Rural Mental Health and Wellbeing Local, to be supported by a network of satellite services and outreach programs across the Wimmera.

Acting on behalf of the alliance’s other councils – Buloke, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, and Yarriambiack – Hindmarsh chief executive Monica Revell and deputy mayor Rosie Barker met with Member for Lowan Emma Kealy on July 24 in the hope of an election commitment.

Cr Barker said mental health had a significant impact on society.

“We have double the suicide rate of the average in Victoria – we really need support in our regions,” she said.

“This motion is based purely upon what was already offered and has been put out to the rest of Victoria as a result of the royal commission into mental health in Victoria.”

Ms Revell said all other regions had established mental-health services.

“It was quite interesting to hear that we are the only region that doesn’t have a mental health local,” she said.

“Cr Barker and I also met with the acting chief executive of West Wimmera Health Service to talk through the advocacy that we’re undertaking, so we can work together.

“We are also looking at setting up meetings with other federal ministers, and local upper house members for Western Victoria, just to talk through our advocacy around mental health. 

“We have asked the neighbouring chief executives to have the conversations with their local health services, but certainly the conversation from West Wimmera Health Service was that they will raise this among their health network as well and assist us with advocacy at every opportunity.”

Ms Revell said Wimmera and southern Mallee residents were expected to travel significant distances for mental-health treatment.

“To know that 500 people from our communities in the Wimmera and southern Mallee area are being told that they need to go to Ballarat, then onto Melbourne and Geelong – for a lot of people, that’s just unobtainable,” she said.

Cr Tony Clark, who works in the emergency services sector, said he had assisted people in need of mental-health support.

“I think I can qualify myself in saying I have very substantial experience in dealing with mental health, mainly when it reaches crisis,” he said.

“I don’t think in any one of those matters I’ve ever dealt with, I have found those persons have had any substantial, or have had very little, support.

“I think to get some mental health support out here in our region, and therefore be able to prevent any person reaching that crisis, would just be absolutely brilliant. 

“We need to get it done.”

People needing support can call 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732; Lifeline – 13 11 14; Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800; or Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636.

The entire July 29, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!