Page 1553 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2007
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MS MacDONALD: I move:
That the report be authorised for publication.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MS MacDONALD: I move:
That the report be noted.
This report focuses on people with a mental illness who can live and work in the community with appropriate support. The committee found that, while accommodation is crucial to managing a person’s condition, the provision of accommodation cannot be looked at in isolation from early intervention and support services. Diversity of needs of people with mental illness means no one model suits all. A variety of housing options are required.
The committee found that the demand for public and community housing exceeds the supply and that this impacts on people with a mental illness who do not have suitable accommodation. The committee also found that spending on mental health services in the ACT had increased significantly more than the national average of the last decade. Housing ACT is the major provider of accommodation for this group. The committee has made specific recommendations for Housing ACT, including working closely with ACT Health to develop training in mental health issues for Housing ACT staff.
The committee heard that the resources are currently focused on acute care services. We also heard that early intervention services aimed at keeping people well out of acute care would relieve pressure on acute care facilities. Step-up, step-down facilities were strongly supported by witnesses to the inquiry. These services provide community care, as well as support, for people who have been discharged from acute care services. I note that in Tuesday’s budget there is a recommendation for a step-up, step-down facility for adults living with mental illness. I think that is a terrific thing, and I am sure that the rest of the committee will echo that sentiment.
The committee found that discharge planning from acute care services was not always appropriate and recommended that it be reviewed. This is one recommendation that will certainly be received by Mental Health ACT without any problem; it was something that they acknowledged was an issue.
The committee heard evidence that there were too many community-based organisations providing similar services to people with a mental illness. Communication between these services is not always open. The committee recommended an audit of government-funded services to reduce duplication and improve service delivery. One of the things we found about that duplication of services was that this actually added an additional layer of confusion for people living in the community with a mental illness or supporting somebody with a mental illness.
The committee found that there was broad agreement on what should be done in relation to providing appropriate accommodation. The question now concerns providing the implementation and the resources to make this happen.
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