The Hon Kate Thwaites
Assistant Minister for Social Security
Assistant Minister for Ageing
Assistant Minister for Women
Luke Gosling OAM MP
Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia
Member for Solomon
The Albanese Labor Government is supporting communities across Australia to be strong and resilient.
Today, Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ageing and Women, Kate Thwaites, and Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, will meet with Response Employment and Training to learn about their successful Recovery Together project.
Recovery Together, which received $360,000 through the Strong and Resilient Communities (SARC) grant program, supports people with mental illness who are unemployed.
Recovery Together comprises eight programs that aim to enhance health literacy, illness self-management, self-efficacy, job readiness skills, and to support entry to employment.
Assistant Minister Thwaites said, "The Albanese Labor Government is proud to support this community-led program, which has been specifically created to promote mental health recovery and improve employment prospects for participants.
"Organisations like Response Employment and Training do fantastic work in their local communities. That's why our government has invested close to $45 million in supporting strong and resilient communities since 2022."
Luke Gosling MP said, "The work that Response Employment and Training does with community mental health, including ADF and veteran mental health, is a matter very close to my heart.
"The challenges faced by those struggling with mental health issues are profound. It is through the support provided by organisations like Response Employment and Training, building on the insights provided by people with lived experience, that we can support community members in Darwin and Palmerston enter or re-enter the workforce."
Sally Morris, CEO of Response Employment and Training, said, "We are proud to share the success of individuals who have overcome significant challenges, including homelessness, involvement with the justice system, and reliance on Government supports and payments.
"The power of their personal stories has been transformative, offering hope and inspiration to vulnerable people facing similar struggles. For many, this journey marks the first time they see themselves in a new light, realising what they can achieve. This initiative demonstrates the powerful role tailored recovery and employment programs play in building resilience and empowerment within our communities, driven by the lived-experience community and supported by dedicated allies."
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said organisations funded under the SARC grant program deliver targeted services to help build capacity at a local level.
"Our Government is committed to building strong and resilient communities, and to helping Australians who need extra support," Minister Rishworth said.
"To do this, we need to invest into the communities that need it most and with the organisations that can make the biggest difference to the future of community members."
"We know that the successful organisations are well placed to help some of our most vulnerable, including young people, people with disability, unemployed people, First Nations Australians and women."
The funding builds on the Labor Government's record to help Australians with cost of living relief, including:
- providing every Australian taxpayer a tax cut
- increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance for nearly one million households
- boosting funding for emergency and food relief services, along with financial counselling
- extending the freeze on deeming rates for 876,000 income support recipients.
