Youth and veterans minister visits Seymour, council rallies for wellbeing hub

By Bianca Hall

Jun 9, 2023

Meeting: ‘We are very thankful to have had the Minister in Seymour to see the recovery efforts under way and what is still needed,’ Cr Stevens said.

Victorian Youth and Veterans Minister Natalie Suleyman was in Seymour on Tuesday, June 6 to discuss how the October 2022 floods impacted young people in Mitchell Shire.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Mitchell Shire councillors met with Ms Syleyman at the new Flood Recovery Hub on Guild St. They used the meeting to pitch the case for a Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub.

Council has committed more than $3 million in land and project costs and is asking the state and federal governments for a $23 million investment.

The hub is planned to help up to 10,000 people access integrated mental and physical health support, alongside other community services, including a veterans’ support centre.

The veterans’ support centre would provide specialised physical and mental health support for both retired from duty and active-duty defence personnel, including suicide prevention programs.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens thanked Ms Suleyman and the state government for their support in providing several youth-focused recovery events, while presenting the case for the community hub.

“A priority for supporting the health of our community is funding for the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub,” Cr Stevens said.

“This is a transformational project that will be an invaluable asset to people in Seymour and the wider shire.

“We have demonstrated our commitment by buying the land, we just need help to finance the build.”