Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (12:30): Congratulations to Headspace Ballarat and Western Victoria Primary Health Network on the launch of Share these Stories, an innovative and powerful anthology by authors who have lived experiences of mental health challenges.

The stories share personal insights into the strengths, struggles and coping strategies of individuals working towards wellness. In many ways the book is a call-out to other people struggling with their mental health, encouraging people to seek support. The anthology also aims to assist friends, family and carers in responding to someone who might be at risk of suicide. The stories of courage and resilience offer hope to those on a recovery journey.

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System came about because the system was broken. Now as we transform mental health in Victoria over the next 10 years the voices of people with lived experience must inform and shape the way that services and support are delivered.

I am so pleased that our government supported this important project and congratulate everyone who has made this happen: Andy Penny and Janelle Johnson from Headspace Ballarat; Sean Duffy, Joanne Gell and Lisa Spurr from Ballarat Community Health; and Rowena Clift and her team from Western Victoria Primary Health Network.

Thank you to the inspiring authors who have overcome so much in their own journeys and have shared their stories to give hope to others and to help them with their own journeys. These authors include Bonnie, Brittnie, Caiti, Egan, Emma, Georgia, Harry, Jake, Joshua and many others.

Click here to read more of my contributions in Parliament. To access further Hansard transcripts, head to the Parliament of Victoria website.