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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 571 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

We are also moving to improve the management of services for people with complex needs. A new policy and procedures have now been developed which will enable the management assessment panel to ensure that these people receive the best level of coordinated service provision. The chairperson of the panel has been appointed and the executive officer, who will promote and facilitate the operations of the panel, has commenced work. Plans for the construction of the private psychiatric facility at Calvary Hospital are progressing well and will go a long way to better meet the needs of the community.

Members will also recall that late last year I extended the operation of the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994. This was to allow for a detailed review of the first two years of the Act's operation. The review will involve a comprehensive round of consultations. It will also consider the implications of the Australian Health Ministers mental health statement of rights and responsibilities and the United Nations resolution on the protection of persons with a mental illness and the improvement of mental health care. A public discussion paper, developed by an interdepartmental committee, will be released shortly to provide the basis for that community consultation. If considered appropriate, legislation based on the review of the current Act would be introduced before the end of 1997.

The Government has also made it clear that it is particularly concerned about mental health services for children and adolescents. The tragedy of youth suicide and depression places increased stresses on families and robs the community of their potential. I am pleased to announce that revised intake procedures, which have greatly improved the initial assessment of clients, have reduced waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services from eight weeks to two weeks. That is a 75 per cent drop, but there is still a waiting time, and we are continuing to search for ways to reduce this even further. In addition, a joint project with the ACT Department of Education and Training has recently been completed. It has produced agreed protocols between both services which have been successfully trialled in the Woden-Weston Creek area.

In order to ensure that mental health issues are properly coordinated across government, members will recall that an interdepartmental committee on mental health was established. The committee met for the first time in November and is due to meet again on 6 March. It is worth noting, too, that there has long been a demonstrated need for better communications and closer links between ACT Housing and the Mental Health Service. I can advise that liaison contact officers have been nominated within both organisations. These officers will be responsible for proactive liaison with ACT Housing clients and staff, dealing with problems as they arise. Draft protocols for this service are in place. These will be reviewed for effectiveness at the end of April.

Other examples of how the Government is moving ahead in the provision of mental health services include the development of an updated patient information system which will provide mental health workers with better information and enable better evaluation of crisis team effectiveness; the filling of the position of mental health crisis team leader; the implementation of a single point triage capacity to improve the level and timeliness of the team's responses; a new toll-free number, providing easier access for clients and carers to reach the crisis team; and planning for the national survey of mental health and wellbeing is under way. A memorandum of understanding between the police and the

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