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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 570 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care): I ask for leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on mental health services in the ACT.

Leave granted.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, members will recall that in November last year I released the Government's mental health strategy entitled Moving Ahead. At the time, I gave a commitment that I would keep the Assembly up to date on developments in this area and provide regular progress reports. In the short time since I released the Moving Ahead strategy, I am pleased to report, we have already made significant improvements to mental health services in the ACT. Our Mental Health Service is currently undergoing significant change to ensure that it better meets the needs of our clients, carers and staff. We are also keen to ensure that the non-government sector and mental health professionals are closely involved in the reform process.

Much of the improvements that are now in place can be put down to the hard work and efforts of the new Executive Director of ACT Mental Health Services, Mr Richard Clarke. Mr Clarke started with us only in November and has brought with him a wealth of experience from working in both the New South Wales and Victorian mental health systems. Under his guidance, senior mental health staff are currently developing a draft strategic plan to assist in further reform of the service. This plan will pave the way for restructuring of the Mental Health Service and will include a new management structure. I expect that the required structural change will be in place by mid-1997.

As part of these reforms, the Government is committed to changing the focus of mental health services from hospital-based treatments to community-based services, where appropriate. To assist our Mental Health Service in developing better treatment outcomes, we have used the successful experiences of mental health services in other jurisdictions. Experiences from interstate demonstrate the benefits of shifting the emphasis of treatment from hospital settings to community-based settings. As part of this initiative, we aim to increase community-based accommodation options. Members will recall that an additional $150,000 was included in the budget for this very purpose. We have received nine responses to the call for expressions of interest from community-based organisations. Six agencies have been shortlisted and recommendations are now being finalised.

The Government is also aware of the pressures that mental illness can have on carers. To this end, we are assisting by providing increased access to respite care. I can advise members that, in relation to the Warren I'Anson Memorial House, the Mental Health Foundation has now recruited one part-time staff member and has advertised for a second. This follows a decision by the Government to grant $50,000 in recurrent funding for the operation of this respite facility.

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