Page 3711 - Week 12 - Thursday, 22 November 2007
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There is increasing effort to strengthen the working relationship between Housing ACT and Mental Health ACT, as discussed in the government’s response to the report. This is driven by the understanding that security of accommodation is one of the social support issues contributing to recovery and maintenance of wellbeing for people who have experienced mental illness.
In July 2006 a joint services meeting was established between the two agencies to address the overall working relationship, referral and assessment processes and the roles and responsibilities in the joint provision of services to a consumer. The meetings are held every four months and hosted alternately by each agency. A signed protocol has also been developed between the two agencies and incorporated into the new service level agreement between ACT Health and the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services.
Features of the agreement include revised responsibilities, processes and procedures for each agency, joint care responsibilities, including the coordination and ongoing monitoring of care, and improved communication strategies, including both management and regional levels of liaison, dispute resolution mechanisms, cooperative referral and support processes, and the development and monitoring of joint client plans.
Through their joint services meeting, Mental Health ACT and Housing ACT have engaged in reciprocal training opportunities to increase the capacity of frontline staff in both agencies. Mental health has also been identified as a priority for consideration in the allocation of housing tenancies and Mental Health ACT now contributes to this process. Special provisions for rent reduction have also been implemented to support consumers who are admitted to inpatient facilities for treatment.
The ACT government has also made a considerable commitment to increasing the availability and supply of social housing stock. This includes initiatives announced in the 2006-07 budget, which committed $10 million per annum over three years for public housing, with an additional $4.3 million provided in the 2007-08 ACT budget for capital purchase. The affordable housing action plan 2007 also involves a multimillion dollar investment in the not-for-profit community housing sector by enhancing its capacity to deliver innovative, affordable housing solutions.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I would again like to thank the officers of my department who contributed to the government’s response. I applaud the standing committee’s report. I am sure that we will be working together particularly well to improve the lives of people with a mental illness and making sure that they are a valued and integral part of our community.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (11.44): Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to endorse the words of the Minister for Housing and to comment further on the merits of the government’s response to the Standing Committee on Health and Disability Report 4, Appropriate housing for people living with mental illness.
Minister Hargreaves discussed reforms to public housing to ensure that it is more targeted to those most in need and the government’s commitment to increasing the
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