Page 3267 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011

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funding directly to public and community sector mental health services from $27.4 million to $90.3 million in the last budget. The government’s recent mental health initiatives include building the replacement adult mental health inpatient unit, the establishment of the mental health assessment unit at Canberra Hospital ED, funding the recently launched mental health and police intervention team and a suite of community sector residential and outreach step-up, step-down subacute mental health services.

We have always recognised that investing resources in areas outside the Health portfolio will have a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the ACT community. Investments in areas such as child and family centres, sporting facilities and services such as the regional community services broadly support wellbeing through assisting people to connect with and remain connected to their community. More particularly, we have supported mental health and wellbeing through initiatives such as WorkSafe ACT implementing a new campaign in 2010 informing workers in the ACT about the effects of workplace bullying and grievance procedures available for those who have fallen victim to bullying at work.

In the education directorate, 50 students with mental health problems were supported, through additional funding, to access and participate in their education. And a variety of courses including self-esteem, assertiveness and anger management are provided through the Office for Women.

These measures illustrate a small part of the government’s broader agenda of addressing social determinants of health and our commitment to mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention. I will be pleased to provide to the Legislative Assembly yearly reports on the implementation of the strategy and framework based on each financial year and I look forward to working with other members on the implementation of these important initiatives.

I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the papers.

Debate (on motion by Ms Bresnan) adjourned to the next sitting.

Papers

MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation): I present the following papers:

Financial Management Act—Instruments, including statements of reasons:

Pursuant to section 14—Directing a transfer of funds within the Education and Training Directorate, including a statement of reasons, dated 30 June 2011.

Pursuant to section 15—Directing a transfer of funds between output classes within:


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