Opening Statement to the Senate Select Committee on Health

On Wednesday, 26 August, Mental Health Australia gave evidence to the Senate Select Committee on Health about the National Mental Health Commission’s National Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services.  Mental Health Australia’s opening statement emphasised that:

  • The reform process must be a true partnership between governments, consumers, carers, providers, clinicians and other experts. 
  • We must invest in strong community based mental health services outside the NDIS and, consistent with the Review’s recommendations, programmes currently in scope for the NDIS should not be cashed out yet.
  • Our members anticipate substantial risks in the proposed role of Primary Health Networks (PHNs) as the regional architecture for mental health services. There is much to be done before the mental health sector can have confidence in the central role for PHNs envisaged by the Review.
  • The importance of having the new National Mental Health Plan be signed by the Prime Minister and First Ministers, rather than health ministers, in order to achieve a genuine whole-of-government approach. 
A copy of the Opening Statement by the CEO, Frank Quinlan, is available here.
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