Page 3566 - Week 11 - Thursday, 23 October 2014

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I have visited Brian Hennessy Rehabilitation Centre. Whilst the service provided there is excellent and for many people it has been their home for a long time—and I do not want to take anything away from that—in terms of the facility itself and the state of the facility, it is not appropriate at all for the long term. If we were not moving down this path, it would need essentially a complete rebuild to make it appropriate for long-term mental health rehabilitation and care. I have no doubt this is the right path to go, but I am not discounting some of the anxiety and concern that will present for carers—I have spoken with some them—for individuals themselves and for staff who care for those people day in, day out.

I am happy to keep talking with you, Mrs Jones. I am very happy to organise for you to visit Brian Hennessy Rehabilitation Centre if you would like so you can see for yourself, but there is a lot more work to be done. We will need to enhance services to care appropriately for those residents.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.

MRS JONES: Minister, currently what is the average length of stay for clients in the facility and will the supported accommodation be case managed?

MS GALLAGHER: Yes, there would have to be a level of case management for any individual that transitioned into supported accommodation. As I said there are probably going to be a range of exit placements. They might not all be appropriate for supported accommodation. With respect to the length of stay, I will take that on notice. I am aware of people who have been there for many years, and there are some who are there for much shorter periods of time. I am very happy to provide that.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: When precisely will Brian Hennessy house close?

MS GALLAGHER: It would not close before the University of Canberra public hospital was due to be operational, which is not before 2017, or during 2017, and before the secure mental health unit was operational. There may be a gradual transition for clients depending on what their particular needs are, but those decisions have not been taken. There would not be any closure prior to appropriate support services being available. Health are working really hard to make sure the consultation process and discussion—not just consultation but information sharing and understanding of what people’s concerns are—is done with enough time to address all those concerns. That is why the process is well underway now.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.

DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, could you tell us more about the processes for staff within Hennessy house as a result of this relocation?

MS GALLAGHER: In terms of the staff who work in the Brian Hennessy rehabilitation service, they form part of the broader ACT Health employees. There


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