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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (24 October) . . Page.. 1945 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Members are aware that there are no simple solutions to the challenges confronting us, and we must continually work towards change to ensure best practice in our delivery of services to the mentally ill. The key measure for the effectiveness and quality of our services must be the outcomes for the individuals and their ability to achieve their goals and aspirations. It is essential to ensure that services are effective and appropriate to meet people's needs and to ensure that needs are the focus of our service provision. It is my vision to provide an effective, high-quality, integrated mental health service for the people of the ACT and surrounding region.

As you are aware, funding was made available in the recent budget for the establishment of a management assessment panel. The management assessment panel concept is based on the successful South Australian model, which has been in operation since 1987. The aim of the management assessment panel is to improve current service delivery by promoting cooperation and coordination between the existing services. This panel will assist the tribunal with the coordination of services for a range of people who have traditionally fallen through the cracks.

People with mental illnesses and their families do not live in a vacuum which can be managed by mental health services alone. They are influenced by a multiplicity of government actions. Government departments must recognise their responsibilities and accordingly work together to provide a cohesive service for the estimated one in five people who have a mental health problem in any one given year. A working party at the operational level is currently working successfully towards addressing and refining procedural issues and will provide ongoing assessment in relation to the Mental Health Tribunal. This cooperative approach will ensure that mental health services in the ACT and surrounding region will be improved, will be better coordinated, will better meet the needs of the community and will be of a high standard.

Although much has been accomplished, there is still much more to be done. The direction in the next six months will be guided by the outcomes of the review by the Social Policy Committee of the need for and provision of services, including legal services, for people with a mental dysfunction, as well as streamlining operations and clarifying management of the most difficult cases. People affected by mental illness are among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community. There is systemic discrimination and people are often denied rights and services to which they are entitled. This level of ignorance and discrimination still associated with mental illness in today's society is completely unacceptable and must be addressed. I am sure that everyone in this Assembly shares that view. I present the following paper:

Mental Health - Implementation of ACT Mental Health Legislation 1994 - report - ministerial statement, 24 October 1995.

I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

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