THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
MEDIA RELEASE
MINISTER LAUNCHES MADCAP CAFÉ
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today launched the new MadCap
Café in the Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre in Narre Warren.
MadCap Cafes train and employ people experiencing mental health problems, and
offer tailored training which matches participants’ needs to help them get the most
out of the experience.
Through the MadCap Cafe, participants are provided with a safe place to engage
with the community and develop their skills, while undertaking meaningful
employment.
Mr Butler said social inclusion and engagement in meaningful activity have a
significant impact on a person’s confidence and wellbeing.
“For people with a mental illness, particularly those with more severe mental illness,
recovery is not necessarily synonymous with cure and symptoms may recur or be
persistent,” Mr Butler said.
“Unfortunately, Australians with mental illness and mental health problems often
experience difficulty and discrimination in education and employment settings.
“The Gillard Government is making a significant investment in activities to improve
employment support, reduce stigma and promote social inclusion of people with a
mental illness.
“I congratulate the Eastern Regions Mental Health Association (ERMHA) for their
terrific contribution in this area, with the establishment of Barista training and the
MadCap Café concept, and for the work they do each and every day for people living
with mental illness.
“I also congratulate the staff of the cafes, who are taking a massive step in getting
their lives on track.”
The Gillard Government has provided the the ERMHA more than $546,000 over 19
months for the MadCap Café Venture Project under the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations’ Job Fund.
DATE: 14 October 2010
MEDIA CONTACT: Samantha Regione 0418 112 688
NEWS 
