Public policy: failures, fallout, and learnings
As expected, this week we have seen extensive national media coverage on the release of the Robodebt Royal Commission findings. We know the scheme has had significant and, in some cases, tragic repercussions on the mental health of people across the country and unfortunately it is an example of a monumental policy failure. Mental Health Australia recognises that news and commentary on the Report has the potential to re-traumatise those impacted and we endorse calls to ensure that appropriate support is available and accessible. The Robodebt catastrophe has undeniably weakened public trust in governments and the public sector. In times like this, we are compelled to reflect on how and why we got to this position, and what we can learn from it going forward. In its submission to the Royal Commission, Victorian Legal Aid recommended four key principles to address the systematic flaws that emerged from the Robodebt scheme. Embedding co-design into redesign; ensure people know their rights; a system that works; and a system that is accountable. These are essential to ensure public policy design and decisions are informed by those the policy is designed for in the first place. The tragedy of Robodebt was that the people who were in greatest need, were not at the centre – or even considered – in the decision making. We need to learn from the Robodebt episode to ensure that all public policy, including the next iteration of mental health policy and system reform, puts people at its centre, and includes strong accountability and transparency from all involved. In my current meetings with Mental Health Australia members across the country, I’m hearing a lot about what’s working, and what isn’t, in the mental health system. A common theme from these conversations is the need to have greater transparency across the mental health system, so that we can be confident that we’re investing in programs and services that work, and we can continue to evolve our approach as we learn more. I’m also hearing the challenges of getting the balance right between national and regional approaches to mental health; the ever-increasing demand for services; and funding pressures. Across the board, workforce shortages and burnout continue to exacerbate problems in service accessibility. Underpinning these operational challenges, many of our members are asking the broader question: what is the government’s national reform agenda for mental health? This is the question Mental Health Australia will continue to call on the Albanese Government to answer. While this has been a sobering week, as the full extent of the Robodebt failures have come to light, in my member meetings, I am hearing a real appetite to work in partnership and collaboration across the sector – there’s a strong desire to step back and consider how we can collectively work together to tackle challenging problems and leverage our respective strengths. This gives me hope that we can create the mental health system that all people in Australia deserve – one that always put the community at its centre, and has the right checks and balances in place to hold us to account. Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
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NDIS Sector Update - June 2023
Media Release: Vital boost to mental health support for emergency services
