Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 4217 ..

To date, 15 organisations have expressed interest in this proposal. It is anticipated that the Government will announce successful projects before the end of 1996.

The recommendations of the 1995 `Purdon' Review clearly highlighted the need for increased resources to provide independent respite care options in the community.

To support of this recommendation, the ACT Government recently announced the provision of recurrent funding of $50,000 to the Mental Health Foundation for the operation of the Warren I'Anson Memorial Respite House.

Mental health organisations have also benefited from the Government's decision to significantly increase the level of funding for its new health promotion authority, Healthpact.

The Board of Healthpact has recently identified mental health as a priority area for support and have approved a total of $166,000 for spending on mental health programs in 1996-97, compared with $31,000 in 1995-96.

This represents a significant increase in spending on awareness raising projects.

Projects attracting support include Mental Health and Schizophrenia Awareness Weeks, information on post-natal depression, assistance to support groups, and consumer training for people with a mental dysfunction.

The Government has also decided to establish an identified funding pool from 1997-98 onwards for mental health services and programs. It will include government and non-government sectors.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .