Empowering Our Communities SA
Country SA Primary Health Network (CSAPHN) has been granted funding under the Commonwealth Department of Health's Empowering our Communities initiative to facilitate community-led projects to support mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention initiatives for people living in drought affected areas.
The Empowering Our Communities funding aims to assist community organisations to address local needs and create partnerships leading to better services being delivered where the need is greatest. The program aims to support families, strengthen social networks, improve wellbeing and increase participation of people in community life to enhance family and community functioning.
Activities meeting criteria under the initiative include:
- early intervention mental health services, counselling and therapy to individuals, couples and or groups with priority access to higher intensity psychological therapies. Resources and services that individuals can access via self-referral;
- wellbeing initiatives, collaborative events, workshops, mental health education on a broad range of topics such as mental health first aid, managing stress, anxiety or depression, and suicide prevention; and
- support local workforce capability development and training to support better engagement with and delivery of mental health services to impacted communities.
Eligible drought affected communities
In South Australia, with no formal process or programs requiring declaration of drought areas, eligible regions have been based on assessment against PIRSA Adverse Events Recovery Framework Indicators.
Current data identifies more than 4800 farming properties as affected by drought.
Areas eligible for funding are those deemed most negatively affected by drought and dry conditions as per rainfall deficiency and PIRSA assessment of adverse events drought indicators. These regions are shown below.
The impacts of drought can be direct and indirect, resulting in increased fodder pricing, decreased water quality and strain on a number of industries, therefore in accordance with national drought agreement ‘there should no longer be Exceptional Circumstances declarations and associated lines on maps’ thus other communities whom can portray evidence of drought will be eligible to apply for funding and/or support.
Table 1: Eligible Districts by LGA and Post Code
| District | LGA | Post Code |
|---|---|---|
|
Eyre Peninsula |
Franklin Harbour, Cleve, Kimba, Streaky Bay, Wudinna, Ceduna |
5602, 5603, 5604, 5633, 5640, 5642, 5650, 5651, 5652, 5653, 5654, 5655, 5660, 5661, 5671, 5680, 5690 |
|
Murray Mallee |
Mid Murray, Loxton/Waikerie, Renmark Paringa, Karoonda East Murray, Coorong, Murray Bridge |
5238, 5260, 5253, 5254, 5256, 5301, 5302, 5303, 5304, 5306, 5307, 5308, 5309,5310, 5311, 5312, 5320, 5321, 5322, 5330, 5331, 5332, 5333, 5340, 5341, 5342, 5343, 5344, 5345, 5346, 5353, 5354, 5356, 5357 |
|
Northern Yorke Peninsula |
Copper Coast |
5552, 5554, 5556, 5558 |
|
Upper North |
Peterborough, Flinders Ranges, Orroroo/Carrington, Mt Remarkable, Goyder |
5374, 5381, 5417, 5418, 5419, 5420, 5421, 5422, 5431, 5432, 5433, 5434, 5480, 5481, 5482, 5485, 5493 |
|
North East Pastoral |
Pastoral Unincorporated Area |
5701, 5440, 5730, 5731, 5732, 5733, 5734 |
Figure 1:
Drought affected communities eligible for funding, based on assessment against PIRSA Adverse
Events Recovery Framework Indicators
For further Information on the Empowering Our Communities initiative:
Empowering Our Communities`
Chloe Oosterbroek, Project and Research Officer
E:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. P: 08 8644 4910