Page 5053 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018

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people to come forward and ask for help. I recognise that we continue to face challenges and that we will need to continue to invest to enable our services to respond to growing demand. My commitment is to continue to work with mental health staff, consumers and carers so that we continue to provide a timely, high quality and evidence-based service for those who need it.

I table a copy of my statement and also the papers that I referenced in my remarks:

Mental health inpatient services—Ministerial statement, 29 November 2018.

Mental Health Inpatient Services within ACT Health—Independent External Review—22-23 May 2018—

Review, prepared by Dr David Fenn MBBS, FRANZCP (Interim Director Clinical Governance NWMH), Mr Peter Kelly RN (Director Operations NWMH) and Mr Cosimo Brisci (Facilities Manager NWMH).

ACT Health’s response to the recommendations, dated 29 November 2018.

I move:

That the Assembly take note of the papers.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2015-2018 annual report 2018

Ministerial statement

MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Disability, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, Minister for Government Services and Procurement, Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.35): I am pleased to present the Legislative Assembly with the final annual report for the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agreement 2015-18, hereafter known as “the agreement”. As members know, the current agreement is coming to a close. The agreement is a high level agreement based on seven key focus areas with the aim to achieve equitable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT.

The agreement was developed in 2014 as a demonstration of the ACT government’s commitment to working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to deliver policies, programs and leadership to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In tabling the report today, I acknowledge the achievements that have been delivered under the current agreement and the contribution of the many ACT public servants, community organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans who have contributed to these outcomes.

I encourage members to read the 2018 annual report to reflect on these achievements and how we can continue to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT community and, just as importantly, what we can learn from


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