A youth mental health service was forced to warn staff to work from home following a public backlash protesting the appointment of former premier Dan Andrews to a lucrative position.
Andrews, who suddenly resigned as Victorian premier a year ago, will become president of non-profit youth mental health service Orygen, which will reportedly pay him around $75,000 a year to attend six meetings scheduled every 12 months.
You will also be called upon to attend non-board meetings and Orygen events as required.
The appointment was called a “slap in the face” by Ange Shearman, whose 16-year-old son Louie took his own life in April 2020 during Victoria’s draconian lockdowns to contain the spread of Covid.
Orygen warned staff not to come into the office on Friday due to a planned protest outside its headquarters in the inner Melbourne suburb of Parkville.
Organized by Leave our Kidz Alone, the advocacy group says on its website that the protest will be a “peaceful gathering” but that “Andrews must go.”
“Orygen and the former premier are shining a light on our state’s most vulnerable people,” an event flyer states.
‘It’s incredible. Stand up with us to turn this around.”
Dan Andrews (pictured left with his wife Catherine) is to take up a lucrative part-time job as chairman of a youth mental health service.
An Orygen spokesperson told Herald of the sun They were “disappointed” to learn of the protest.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have implemented additional measures to protect the safety and well-being of the youth and families we care for, as well as our staff,” he said.
‘The small group planning the disruption is well known for regularly protesting against diversity and inclusion, which goes against our values.
“We encourage anyone planning to take part to consider the impact on young people who rely on our services for mental health support.”
Andrews’ appointment to the role has drawn criticism due to the 262-day lockdown Victorians endured during Covid, which experts have called detrimental to young people’s mental health.
One of those experts was Orygen CEO Professor Patrick McGorry.
The children’s advocacy group Leave our Kidz Alone was planning a protest against Mr. Andrews’ appointment.
Professor McGorry told ABC’s 7.30 in July 2021 that lockdowns were affecting the mental health of all Victorians, but particularly young people.
“We’ve seen an increase in demand, an increase in need for care,” he said.
“But we haven’t been able to deliver on it because of the level of resources we actually had.”
‘We cannot continue going through these blockades. I think people are completely over it.
‘(The lockdowns) undermine well-being… the joy of life.
“Morale suffers… (and) there is the impact on social connection, social cohesion.”
Three years later, Professor McGorry endorsed Andrews’ appointment as president.
“With 20 years of leadership in mental health reform, Dan Andrews will be an outstanding leader for Orygen and the field of youth mental health,” Professor McGorry said.
People gather on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament to celebrate Andrews’ resignation as premier last year.
Despite saying lockdown caused a rise in youth mental health submissions, Orygen chief executive Professor Patrick McGorry welcomed Mr Andrews’ appointment.
“Mr. Andrews has a proven track record as a strategically minded change agent, which are invaluable attributes for Orygen as we continue to lead youth mental health reform while addressing funding challenges to secure the support we need to sustain our vital work.” “.
In a study into how the pandemic influenced suicide in Victoria, the National Library of Medicine concluded that Covid was a “major background stressor that can erode well-being, sense of agency and connection to others.”
Orygen reported in September that there had been “an alarming increase in youth suicide deaths in Victoria”, with a 48 per cent increase in incidents among the 18-24 demographic compared to the same period last year. .
A record number of Victorians committed suicide last year, with 801 people taking their own lives, including 73 people aged 18 to 24 and 26 under 18s, the highest number in five years.
Andrews will earn $225,000 during his three-year tenure at Orygen, adding to his taxpayer-funded pension that costs Victorians more than $300,000 a year.