19 March 2026
Cleeland calls for practical mental health support in fire-affected communities
The Nationals, Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has met with the Mental Health Minister, calling for immediate and practical mental health support for communities impacted by the Longwood bushfires.
Following the meeting, Ms Cleeland said she remains concerned the Allan Labor Government is failing to deliver the kind of on-the-ground support regional Victorians actually need.
“This is not about announcements, it’s about access,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Right now, people in our fire-affected communities need support that is local, visible and easy to access. What I’m seeing from Labor simply doesn’t match that.”
Ms Cleeland recently met with the Lower Hume Primary Mental Health Service, a partnership between Yea and District Memorial Hospital, Alexandra District Health, Seymour Health, Kilmore District Hospital and Northern Health.
The service delivers free mental health support across Mitchell and Murrindindi, providing consultations and brief interventions for people experiencing mild to moderate distress.
Importantly, the service is designed to meet people where they are, including pop-up clinics at community events, local hubs and even cattle yards, ensuring support is discreet and accessible.
“This is exactly what works in regional communities,” Ms Cleeland said.
“It’s practical, it’s trusted, and it reaches people who would never walk through the door of a traditional service.”
Despite its success, the program is currently limited in scope and funding, supported only in part by the Federal Government, and does not extend into Strathbogie.
Ms Cleeland said this was particularly concerning given the Lower Hume was one of the few regions in Victoria without a dedicated Mental Health Local.
“We are already seeing the consequences of that gap, with higher rates of people ending up back in emergency departments because there simply isn’t enough early support or prevention,” she said.
“That is not good enough, especially in the aftermath of a disaster.”
Ms Cleeland said the Allan Labor Government’s mental health announcement risks missing the mark, with funding largely directed toward services outside the region.
“I am concerned the government is focused on propping up existing structures rather than backing solutions that are already working on the ground in communities like ours,” she said
.
“We have handed the government a practical, ready-made solution, and it needs to listen.”
While the Minister has indicated temporary measures such as roving clinicians, Ms Cleeland warned this would not provide the long-term support communities need.
“When the immediate crisis passes and the cameras move on, that’s when the real mental health challenges begin,” she said.
“That is when people will need consistent, trusted support close to home, not a service that disappears.”
Ms Cleeland called on the State Government to invest in and expand the Lower Hume Primary Mental Health Service, including extending its reach into Strathbogie.
“This is a proven model and is already supporting our communities, with the right backing, it could do so much more,” she said.
“Our region is vulnerable, and we cannot afford to get this wrong.”