Page 2134 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 May 2009
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training for emergency service workers and teachers. We have learned from various tragedies in the ACT and in other jurisdictions in Australia that the knowledge and sensitivity of these professionals in recognising and dealing appropriately with people with mental illness are crucial. We will continue to push for recurrent funding of this pilot.
The budget also includes an increase of $8.4 million over four years in funding for mental health services and the allocation of half of it to community sector mental health programs. ACTCOSS, the Youth Coalition and other community organisations have been celebrating these achievements. The ABC yesterday reported that these and other commitments achieved under the agreement and this year’s budget were a demonstration of how successful the Greens have been in their partnership with the government.
While these are good beginnings, the government has some way to go. For example, our agreement sought an increase in mental health funding to 12 per cent of overall health funding. At the moment, it will sit at just under eight per cent in 2009-10. The Greens sought a shift of resources towards the community-based mental health services to 30 per cent of mental health funding.
The fifty-fifty allocation of the growth funds between government mental health services and the community sector is a good step. However, as the focus on recovery increases, the importance of shifting more resources into the community sector mental health services will mean a greater reallocation of funds. It has been internationally recognised that psychosocial, employment and accommodation support services needed to assist people with mental illness on their road to recovery are able to be provided more flexibly and cost effectively in the community sector.
There is obviously a lot further to go to realise the vision the Greens have for services which promote and sustain wellbeing and health for Canberrans but these are important steps. We will continue to work with the government and the community to implement the health parts of the agreement. Consistent with its overall strategy for a budget for these challenging economic times, the government has invested in the bricks and mortar of health care and the technological infrastructure to develop and maintain a high-quality, responsive acute sector.
The development of effective electronic health systems can also be a very important way of empowering consumers on health care through better and more timely access to their own health information. However, to see the best use of acute infrastructure within a resource-stretched system, the Greens believe more resources are needed to maintain wellness to reduce the need to access acute services. Consumers also need strong, supported pathways out of the acute sector. Expanded community and consumer engagement in improving these pathways is vital.
This budget lays some foundations for these pathways. The $3 million funding over four years for transition support for people moving from hospital to the community is an example of this.
The Greens welcome the new early intervention program for children with disabilities. This is growing evidence that well-targeted, timely, early interventions can
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