Community self-help organisations in Benalla will share in more than $164,000 in funding from the Brumby Labor Government to help them with their important tasks, Candy Broad, Member for Northern Victoria Region announced today.
Ms Broad said that more than 170 community self help groups from around the State will benefit from the funding, including the Benalla Cancer Friendship Group which received $1,000 and the Australian NPC Disease Foundation which received $1,175.
“Many of these groups involve people with a chronic health condition or mental illness and their families, and the one-off grants are recognition of the key volunteer role they played in helping others” Ms Broad said.
“People who are helping themselves and their families play an important role in the healthcare system, and often need a bit of support in their role,” she said.
“These health self-help groups are composed of and managed by people who share a common chronic health condition, either themselves or as part of their family.”
“They include groups to support people affected by specific illnesses and conditions, including arthritis, strokes, a range of different cancers, mental illness, diabetes and fibromyalgia, and others which provide support to family and friends of people with a range of illnesses.”
The grants are provided to the groups for general running expenses and minor equipment.
Minister for Health, Daniel Andrews said local self-help groups were receiving $110,000 of the funds, and the other $54,000 was going to groups which provided support and services across the State.
Ms Broad said that the community health self- help grants were another example of the Brumby Labor Government’s ongoing investment and support for the Benalla community.