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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 774 ..

MR HIRD: I ask the Chief Minister a question in her capacity as Minister for Health and Community Care. The Assembly will recall that the Government made additional funding available in the last budget to provide for more supported accommodation for people with mental illness. There may be a few in this chamber. Can the Minister inform the parliament how many extra places will be provided to the community through this funding and when they will be available - for the people opposite?

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Hird, for the question. It is a matter of record that this Government has increased spending on mental health services by more than $1.3m over the last two years, which I think is a pretty impressive exercise. Since this Government came to power, we have been reversing the situation that Ms Reilly spoke about - the underspending by the ACT in mental health under the previous Government. That is now reversing. We have spent $1.3m more over the last two years. Since the release of the Moving Ahead statement late last year, I am pleased to report that we have certainly done just that - moved ahead. We are implementing significant changes to the way mental health services are delivered right across Canberra.

As part of the increased funding in the 1996-97 budget, an extra $150,000 was allocated for more supported accommodation places to help alleviate waiting lists and provide more choice for mental health patients needing living assistance. Late last year expressions of interest were sought from community and non-government organisations to provide these places. I am pleased to advise the Assembly that the Department of Health and Community Care has selected the successful tenderers and is now finalising agreements with these agencies.

The Richmond Fellowship, in association with the Havelock Housing Association, and Centacare will provide a total of 20 new supported accommodation places using this additional funding. These agencies were selected on their track record, commitment and high standards of care for the mentally ill. I am advised that Mental Health Services will assign two staff to work with Richmond Fellowship and Centacare to ensure that the additional places are developed in line with best practice both here and interstate. While it is the Government's intention that these 20 new places will be in a homelike environment and allow for as much independence as possible, they will be supported and supervised by skilled mental health professionals. This decision represents another step forward in broadening the range of community-based options available to residents with mental health problems.

I am also pleased to note that, with the availability of some slippage funding, the Government has decided to allocate an additional $30,000 over the next 12 months to Barnardos Australia. This will enable Barnardos to provide extra respite care in Canberra for children with mental health problems or children whose parents have mental illnesses. These funds will certainly help to ease the burden for both parents and children who may be going through difficult and stressful periods from time to time. I look forward in coming months to keeping the Assembly and the Social Policy Committee posted on progress with the initiatives contained in our Moving Ahead statement. I would also urge all members to participate in the review of the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act which is currently under way.

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