Funding Extension Saves Services

Mental Health Australia has welcomed today’s news that Commonwealth supported community mental health organisations will be funded for another twelve months, worth almost $300 million.

“This is fantastic news for Australians with mental illness and the people who care for them, and will also give some welcome reassurance to workers as they head off for their Easter break,” Mental Health Australia CEO Frank Quinlan said.

“We look forward to working with the Federal government on long term security and reform for the whole mental health sector and its response to the National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services, when it is released.

“If our mental health system is to be more effective and efficient we must set clear targets and indicators for its performance; we must have clear agreements about who is responsible for what; we must ensure consumers and carers are at the centre of our planning; and, we must ensure that performance against agreed objectives is monitored and reported regularly.”

“Ultimately, we must move away from short term planning, short term contracts, and develop a 10 year plan for reform. We hope that the National Mental Health Commission’s review of mental health will be the first step in this reform process.

“We will examine the announcement in detail and make further comment on its implications for people who experience mental illness and those who care for them.”