Press Releases

How many people are aware of what the FAST Campaign is?

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, is well aware and is encouraging other members of the community to get on board as well.

The FAST Campaign has been launched by the National Stroke Foundation and is aimed at developing awareness amongst all community members of the key signs of stroke.

“Every 10 minutes someone, somewhere in Australia suffers a stroke,” Mr Crisp said.

“It is the nation’s second biggest killer and leaves thousands of survivors with a permanent disability.

“However, if you are able to recognise the signs of a stroke you can have a significant impact on these statistics,” he said.

The FAST test is the easy way to recognise and remember the key signs of stroke and to act quickly.

                 Face – check their face. Has their mouth dropped?

                 Arms – can they lift both arms?

                 Speech – is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

                 Time – is critical. If you see any of the above signs call 000 immediately.

“If you remember and implement this very simple test you will have an enormous impact on the quality of life of someone who has suffered a stroke.

“Remember, a quick response can make all the difference,” Mr Crisp said.

It is not too late to register for the Premier’s Active Families Challenge, The Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp has stated today.

The challenge, which began on March 19, continues through until April 30, 2012 and is a key component of the Victorian Government’s commitment to getting more people, more active, more often.

A family focused initiative, the challenge encourages all Victorians to do 30 minutes of physical activity per day for 30 days.

It is a great way of engaging with the local community, especially families with school-aged children, and around 67,000 Victorians participated in the last challenge in 2010.

Participation is free and registration provides access to fantastic offers from challenge partners and an opportunity to go into the draw for fantastic prizes.

There is also a rewards program for schools.

One of the best ways of getting more active is reducing inactive leisure time by limiting television viewing time, cutting down on video games and reducing the time spent surfing the net.

Getting the right nutrition will complement your physical activity.

Further information is available from www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/challenge , Mr Crisp concluded.

The Nationals Member for Mildura Peter Crisp will join students and families in a walk from Washington Drive to Mildura West Primary School tomorrow morning (FRIDAY) at 8.30am. 

“Mildura West is an excellent example of how walk and ride to school programs have been promoted and utilised by both students and parents,” Mr Crisp said. 

“A feature is the participation of mums, dads, grandparents, younger children in strollers and their siblings on bikes, scooters and skateboards. 

“Last time, while the event started with about 15 it grew to about 60 by the time procession reached the school. 

“What is special is the good feeling and the laughter,” Mr Crisp said.

Mildura residents are being encouraged to determine the organ and tissue donation wishes of their loved ones during DonateLife Week which runs from 19 - 26 February 2012. 

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, said DonateLife Week was an opportunity for everyone to reflect on whether they would know what to say if asked one day, ‘Did they want to be an organ and tissue donor?’ 

“It is encouraging to know that more Australians are discussing organ and tissue donation with family members and 72 per cent believe their family knows their donation wishes. At the same time, only 57 per cent of Australians know the donation wishes of their loved ones,” Mr Crisp said. 

“Any day this week is a good day to have the conversation with your family and close friends. It’s a conversation that will help you be prepared, should you ever be asked to confirm a loved one’s donation wishes. 

“It will also help your family be prepared should they ever be asked to confirm your wishes. It’s a conversation that could one day save lives.” 

It is important to know a person’s wishes regarding organ donation as their family will always be asked to confirm the donation wishes of the deceased. Families that have discussed and know each other’s donation wishes are more likely to uphold them. 

“We can all do our part as individuals by discovering the facts about organ and tissue donation, registering our decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register and, most importantly, discussing our decisions with the people close to us,” Mr Crisp said. 

In 2011, a total of 337 organ donors saved or improved the lives of 1,001 people in need of an organ transplant. This is the highest annual total of deceased organ donors and transplant recipients in Australia's history. 

DonateLife Week is Australia’s national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation. It is led by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of the national DonateLife campaign.

In a move that has been welcomed by the Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, Victoria will soon have legislation that sets out clear expectations for organisations that engage with carers.

"The Coalition Government has honoured an election commitment with the introduction of the Carers Recognition Bill 2012 which recognises all carers, including young carers, kinship and foster carers and acknowledges the valued role of carers in Victoria,” Mr Crisp said.

“Over 700,000 Victorians are caring for a family member or friend with a disability, mental or chronic illness or someone frail aged and carers need to be recognised for the enormous contribution they are making to the community and deserve our full support.

“Family carers save the Australian Federal Government more than $40 billion every year and many struggle with the demands of the role. This legislation will help carers gain better support when dealing with agencies and organisations,” Mr Crisp said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge said that the Bill which she outlined in Parliament this week, will raise the status of these carers and care relationships in the community and sets out principles recognising carers for their contribution.

Ms Wooldridge said the Bill would bring Victoria into line with legislation in other states and territories and the Commonwealth.

“However, the Bill is unique in recognising care relationships. Carers and the people they care for are in a shared arrangement and if the care relationship is strong, the carer and the person being cared for will have better lives,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“This approach to recognising the significance of care relationships has been the subject of extensive consultation.”

The legislation requires government and funded agencies to reflect the care relationship principles in the conduct of their business and report annually on the actions they have taken to comply with the principles.

The Victorian Charter ‘Supporting People in Care Relationships’ will be updated to reflect the new legislation and will support implementation of the Bill.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, part of an international campaign to raise awareness of the disease and its associated symptoms and Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, is urging women to be aware of the signs.

 “It is imperative that all women know the symptoms of ovarian cancer and are able to recognise the warning signs if they occur,” Mr Crisp said. 

“There is no detection test for ovarian cancer which is why it is so important for women to recognise the symptoms. 

“More than 1,200 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year in Australia – that’s three women a day. This is a startling and worrisome fact.” 

The 4 types of ovarian cancer symptoms most frequently reported are: 

1. Abdominal or pelvic pain 

2. Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating 

3. Needing to urinate often or urgently 

4. Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly 

During February, Ovarian Cancer Australia invites the community, volunteers and friends to raise vital funds for support programs and resources for women and their families affected by ovarian cancer and for a national research program into the disease. 

“2012 Teal Ribbon Day is Wednesday, 29 February, when Australians are encouraged to purchase and wear a teal ribbon to raise awareness of ovarian cancer,” Mr Crisp said. 

“Show your support this February, buy a teal ribbon, host a morning tea, or simply talk about the symptoms of ovarian cancer with the women in your life.” 

For more information visit www.ovariancancer.net.au or call 1300 660 334

Individuals, organisations and businesses in the Mildura Electorate with an interest in workforce participation by people living with a mental illness are being encouraged to make a submission to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry.

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, encourages members of the community to submit to the inquiry being conducted by the Family and Community Development Committee, which was initiated by the Coalition Government delivering on its commitment to enhance workforce participation for Victorians with a mental illness.

Mr Crisp said, “One in five Australians have experienced some kind of mental illness in the past 12 months (Australian Bureau of Statistics) and that includes people living in rural Victoria.

Many rural families are also carrying the emotional scars of 10 tough years of drought, fires and floods and whilst things have improved many people will still benefit from help.” 

He said mental illness can be a significant barrier for workforce participation.

Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge said the inquiry aims to help make it easier for people with a mental illness to participate fully in the community.

“People with a mental illness face a range of challenges that often makes it harder for them to secure and hold down a job, with many facing discrimination,” Ms Wooldridge said.

The Coalition Government wants to significantly increase the employment rate of people with a mental illness. To achieve this goal, the Family and Community Development Committee, chaired by Southern Metropolitan MLC Ms Georgie Crozier, is considering:

·    evidence of the low rate of workforce participation of people with mental illness and the social and economic costs involved

·    identification of the barriers that people with mental illness experience in gaining and retaining employment

·    the respective roles of, and collaboration between, local, state and Commonwealth governments, business and community organisations in supporting the workforce participation of people with mental illness

·    the effectiveness of programs that aim to improve the workforce participation for people with mental illness, including best practice models

·    opportunities for tailoring education and vocational training for the needs of people with mental illness

·    effective measures to support employers to recruit, employ and retain people with mental illness

·    the role of mental health services, and general health and community services, in improving the workforce participation of people with mental illness.

Mr Crisp said, “Helping people suffering from a mental illness back into the workforce is an important way to aid recovery and to help people with a mental illness to lead active and fulfilling lives. I encourage people to make a submission if they have ideas about how to overcome the challenges faced by Victorians with a mental illness wanting to enter the workforce.”

Submissions are due by 11 November 2011, although extensions may be granted to ensure the individuals and organisations have an opportunity to provide their views to the Victorian Parliament.

For information, telephone (03) 8682 2843, or visit www.parliament.vic.gov.au/fcdc

The Coalition Government will provide further opportunity for public comment on the Exposure Draft of the Mental Health Bill, with the closing date for submissions extended until Monday 28 February 2011, Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp said today.

“During the election campaign we made a commitment to ensure that the mental health sector, people living with a mental illness and their families and carers have the opportunity to submit their ideas and have them taken into account in framing the Bill introduced into Parliament,” Mr Crisp said.

“Labor’s deadline did not provide individuals, families and other stakeholders with sufficient time to prepare submissions.

“As a result, the Coalition has decided to extend the closing date for submissions, allowing all stakeholders to put forward their ideas on the Exposure Draft of the Mental Health Bill.

“There are a number of individuals, families and community groups who are affected by this important piece of legislation and I highly encourage those people to make a submission.

“Based on the submissions already received and meetings held it is clear that some issues need further discussion and review.

“These include issues such as the sharing of information, the provision of compulsory treatment and ECT and the decision making capacity of young people,” Mr Crisp said.

Victoria's Mental Health Act 1986 is the oldest mental health legislation in Australia and needs to be brought into line with current standards. Public submissions are progressively made available on the review website for the information and reference of the community.

Submissions on the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2010 can be lodged electronically at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/mhactreview or sent to Review of the Mental Health Act Department of Health GPO Box 4541 Melbourne 3000.