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Drought Support
A Centre has been established in Murray Bridge to meet the needs of people on the land and rural industries with issues arising from the drought and other issues faced by farming and rural communities. The Murray Mallee GP Network is part of this coordinated response to the needs of farmers in the Murraylands area who will now be able to identify the Centre as a first point of call if they need assistance.
Within the centre, Positive Communities consultant Jennifer Repper specifically works with local communities and families in the Murray Mallee region to assist them to enhance their capacity to positively manage the psychological impact of drought.
Jennifer grew up on a Mallee property and has a strong health and agriculture background. She has worked as a registered and community health nurse in many rural communities across Australia and run her own wool production enterprise on the family property. She has formal qualifications in health promotion and agricultural extension to compliment her practical experiences working with farming families, rural communities and medical services.
Jennifer’s role includes working with:
- Drought affected families and individuals in crisis to ensure they access appropriates services and accurate information;
- Communities to improve their skills and knowledge about mental wellbeing during drought including how to identify the signs and symptoms of depression and where to go for help; and
- Medical and allied health services to promote and strengthen linkages to ensure appropriate support is readily accessible by those in need of further mental health assistance.
This program is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing under the Mental Health Support for Drought Affected Communities Initiative through the Australian General Practitioners Network and beyondblue.
Ms Jennifer Repper
Other staff at the Drought and Rural Support Centre (which are not funded by the MMGPN) include two Rural Financial Counsellors, a visiting Centrelink Rural Services Officer and a Rural Community Counsellor. The Rural Financial Counsellors, Grant Crettenden and Alice Kempe, provide financial counselling, support and information on drought related and other financial assistance schemes together with management planning options for farmers and small business owners.
The Centrelink Rural Services Officer, Krys Baker, provides farming families and small business owners with information and assistance regarding eligibility and processing applications for drought and farming related Centrelink entitlements. Rural Community Counsellors Keltie Grant and Ron Ellis, funded by Country Health SA, provide clinical counselling and support for people on the land and in rural industries who are experiencing social, emotional or family related issues.
All of the services provided at the Centre are free and confidential and appointments can be held either at the Centre, at your home or at an agreed venue.
Contact the Murraylands Drought and Rural Support Centre on 8532 3198.
Pictured are, from left, BJ Lowe, Jennifer Repper, Grant Crettenden, Alice Kempe, Krys Baker & Kris Dalitz.
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