There is an alarming increase in suicide pacts - young people banding together to suggest that they are going to take their lives. Really about stretched youth services trying to work with those people and to advocate for the mental health services to come and give back up assistance. Young people are using more dangerous drugs. Young people not having the income to buy alcohol sees an increase in the use of chroming or sniffing products that are more affordable. Transport is inadequate for young people to make it to Shepparton to access not just youth health but also Centrelink or any welfare or community health type programs.
Service gaps The manner in which funding for rural areas is calculated was of concern.
There is a differential between rural and provincial. Some of the funding is meant to come through to us is being blocked at the provincial level. Our population, however, is being included in applications for those funding grants. When I first moved to Euroa the electricity supply was atrocious. This has improved, but it could be better.