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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3143 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care): Mr Speaker, I seek leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on mental health services in the Australian Capital Territory.

Leave granted.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, members will recall that in February this year I provided the Assembly with an update on the developments in the reform of mental health services in the ACT. This update was in line with my undertaking in November 1996 when I released the Government's mental health strategy, entitled Moving Ahead. Much has happened since February; so, I am very pleased to provide a second update.

The ACT Mental Health Service has prepared a comprehensive service development plan. I launched the plan on 11 April. A formal consultation period was provided, with comments closing on 9 May. Many organisations and individuals took the opportunity to comment, and, in addition to the support for the overall direction of the plan, I understand that people were very pleased with the inclusive process that has been used. The plan has now been revised in light of the comments received, and it will be revisited as circumstances dictate.

A new structure is being implemented in the ACT Mental Health Service. One of the key changes that go to make up the new structure is that the community-based service will have skilled, multidisciplinary staff who will respond clinically by providing a 24-hour-a-day service consisting of support and interventions which relieve the need for hospitalisation. Also, key principles have been put in place that will guide the planning and the delivery of services, providing accountability of service providers; a preferred point of entry for users of the service; equity of access for users of the service; prioritised service provision; case management; mobility; coordination and integration of services; strong linkages with other services; health promotion; and, importantly, consumer participation in planning and development.

Senior positions were widely advertised on Saturday, 28 June. Interviews have been held, and offers of appointment will be made shortly. I anticipate that, once the new management team is in place, the principles I have just outlined will rapidly translate into high-quality practice. Of particular importance, the crisis assessment and treatment team has been revamped to provide a substantially improved service. In particular, it now has eight additional positions; a designated team leader; a community-based treatment focus; an improved computer tracking system; and a multidisciplinary team. Mr Speaker, our activities have not been confined to the service delivery of ACT mental health services. Last financial year we provided an additional $150,000 to the non-government sector for the provision of community-based residential support. The successful organisations were Centacare and Richmond Fellowship, who are able to support an additional 20 places with the funding that they have received. Barnardos also received one-off funding to provide respite care for children with mental health problems or for children whose parents have mental health problems.

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