Page 2543 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 7 August 1990
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MINISTER FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
Watson Psychiatric Hostel
Mr Moore - Asked the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts without notice on 5 June 1990:
1. Can the Minister inform the Assembly if there are discussions currently being held to establish the viability of converting the Watson Psychiatric Hostel in Anthill Street Watson, to a privately funded institution? And if there are such discussions, can the Minister either make public the nature of those discussions or else reassure the Assembly that this facility will remain a Government funded establishment?
Mr Humphries - The answer to Mr Moores question is as follows:
There have been no discussions within the Government concerning privatisation of Watson Hostel. However, Stafford Mental Health Services have attended workshops that raised this issue.
The staff of the Mental Health Service, together with members of the Mental Health Advisory Committee and some staff members of non Government services have attended a series of workshops to consider ways in which the Service might more effectively and efficiently provide mental health care in the ACT.
I am advised that, in the course of these workshops, some staff members proposed a reconsideration of the role, funding and management of both hostels currently run by Mental Health Services. There was discussion of a community organisation taking responsibility for a hostel in the ACT. I am also advised that further consideration will be given to a number of proposals made in these workshops, some of which may eventually be submitted to the Department of Health for consideration.
In passing, I would like to applaud the staff concerned for their willingness to review actively the effectiveness of their service and to consider change. I am told that community members who participated were impressed by the willingness of staff to critically evaluate their own work.
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