New role: Sue McMillan. Picture: Rob Carew.
THE first meeting of the outer east headspace consortium last week saw new chairman, Knox councillor Sue McMillan, take her seat for the first time.
Cr McMillan was nominated for the role after her decision not to stand again as councillor in Dobson Ward in next month's council elections.
She said the council's youth services co-ordinator, Tony Justice, had nominated her for the role because of her involvement with the youth advisory committee for the past four years.
"It's good because I can stay involved with what I am passionate about, while not necessarily being on council."
Cr McMillan said her passion for helping young people and her business expertise were what got her the job. Her background is in marketing and finance, and she also holds a diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors which allows her to be a chairman for any of the Top 200 companies on the ASX.
"I'll be making a lot of governance and strategic decisions. My expertise will be in finance, managing risk, things like that," she said.
She would be the "frontman" for the new headspace site — "just like the mayor in council" — and do all the publicity and attend meetings.
Cr McMillan said the consortium's first meeting covered a multitude of issues, including how to make the Knox site accessible to young people in Maroondah and Yarra Ranges as well.
A report will be presented at the next meeting highlighting some of the ways to raise awareness of the centre.
Cr McMillan said it was a priority to ensure that Maroondah and Yarra Ranges councils were "engaged and listened to" just as much as Knox.
The centre is expected to open by the end of the year. The old Centrelink site at Knox City is now being fitted out to make way for the youth mental hub, and Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local — the lead consortium agency — is interviewing for a site manager.