Supporting the homeless mentally ill
Our Patron
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A Message From Our Patron, the Hon. Sir William Deane
The burgeoning mental health crisis in our country is belatedly being widely reported and generally acknowledged.
It has become plain beyond genuine dispute that mentally ill people are far too often among the most desperately vulnerable people in this generally prosperous land.
For we know that: there are many mentally ill people living on our streets; there are many mentally ill people living in abject squalor and poverty; |
there are countless mentally ill people left to fend for themselves in gaols, boarding houses and public housing estates throughout our nation.
We also know that this situation is simply indefensible.
In that context, the provision of long-term, supported accommodation for the chronically mentally ill who are presently unable to live with the basic dignity to which every human being is entitled is not simply a "good idea". It is an absolute must.
At the same time it is becoming increasingly apparent that the task of relieving the plight of so many of our mentally ill fellow citizens will not be adequately addressed by governments alone. There is an urgent need for local communities and private citizens to at least share responsibility and recognise that the question "what can I do?" must replace the question "what are they doing?" Indeed, such a cultural shift is essential if genuine change is to be achieved.
In that context, I have no hesitation in sincerely commending Home in Queanbeyan ("Home") as a significant community initiative that will both reach out the hand of support to the homeless mentally ill of our local community and hopefully help inspire other communities to do the same. Home is, I believe, a wonderful example of a local community seeking to respond to those whose cries are too often drowned-out by apathy, indifference and buck-passing.
As Patron of Home in Queanbeyan, I urge you to give it whatever support you can.
We also know that this situation is simply indefensible.
In that context, the provision of long-term, supported accommodation for the chronically mentally ill who are presently unable to live with the basic dignity to which every human being is entitled is not simply a "good idea". It is an absolute must.
At the same time it is becoming increasingly apparent that the task of relieving the plight of so many of our mentally ill fellow citizens will not be adequately addressed by governments alone. There is an urgent need for local communities and private citizens to at least share responsibility and recognise that the question "what can I do?" must replace the question "what are they doing?" Indeed, such a cultural shift is essential if genuine change is to be achieved.
In that context, I have no hesitation in sincerely commending Home in Queanbeyan ("Home") as a significant community initiative that will both reach out the hand of support to the homeless mentally ill of our local community and hopefully help inspire other communities to do the same. Home is, I believe, a wonderful example of a local community seeking to respond to those whose cries are too often drowned-out by apathy, indifference and buck-passing.
As Patron of Home in Queanbeyan, I urge you to give it whatever support you can.
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The Honorable Sir William Deane
Patron of Home in Queanbeyan Sir William Deane was born in Melbourne but was educated in Canberra and Sydney. He was a barrister and Queen's Counsel before being appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1976 and, later that year, a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. From 1982 until 1995, he was a Justice of the High Court of Australia. From 1996 until 2001, he was Australia's 22nd Governor-General. He is currently doing what he likes. That includes, among many other things, being National President of Scouts Australia, Patron of the Street Kids Organization, Youth off the Streets, and Patron of Reconciliation Australia. |