Page 3518 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 12 September 2017
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dedicated Minister for Mental Health. I believe a body such as this has the potential to make real and lasting change for mental health consumers, carers and their families.
To do this, however, significant community consultation and engagement are needed. In developing the office my four key objectives are: to ensure comprehensive oversight and increased understanding of the ACT’s mental health system; person-centred approaches across all government activity; improved coordination of services and facilities; and that the best possible mental health and wellbeing services are available for all Canberrans to lead a meaningful and contributing life.
It is my intention to develop a model that can empower the office for mental health to provide reports and advice to the community and government on what is working and what is not. I believe that the office should also have a role in ensuring the best possible delivery of mental health treatment, care and support. This requires strong integration of relevant ACT government programs and services, as well as national initiatives and those services funded through Capital Health Network and the services provided by our non-government partners.
I was asked what progress had been made on the establishment of the ACT office for mental health. That was a recommendation of the estimates committee. While the drivers for change are clear, the model has not yet been determined. The ACT government has undertaken a literature review and looked at models currently operating elsewhere, both throughout Australia and internationally, to help inform options about what might work best in the ACT context.
I recently wrote to key stakeholders and partners to provide the outcomes of a desktop review of models of mental health commissions in other jurisdictions. The paper is the first in a series of consultation opportunities regarding the design of an ACT office for mental health. As a conversation starter, its primary purpose is to stimulate thinking about what key stakeholders would like to see from such an office and what learnings there may be from existing similar bodies.
Community and stakeholder feedback will drive much of the model’s development. Following feedback from the conversation starter, a more comprehensive consultation process will be undertaken to feed into the design and development of the office. This will of course involve a combination of face-to-face forums and workshops, as well as online and written feedback.
The ACT has some great mental health programs and services which are staffed by a dedicated and passionate workforce. Across the Health Directorate I know that there are a broad range of reforms and consultations currently underway to improve the health system, including the territory-wide health services framework, which I understand will be released soon.
By working to improve the coordination between and integration of existing programs and services, we can start to move towards a mental health system, rather a mental health sector, which is supported to work to ensure that treatment, care and support are truly person-centric. Increased evidence-based decisions about mental health care and the funding of mental health programs and services are also essential. How that
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