Submission

This submission highlights the MHCA concern about the availability and quality of mental health support for older people particularly in aged care and acute settings. The MHCA believes that all governments should better protect the rights of older people and those with dementia by providing better access to appropriate mental health service support in the primary health, acute and aged care settings.

The MHCA is committed to the development of program funding for people with a disability and considers the Regulation Impact Statement a key document in the development of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. However, this needs to be made accessible to a wide audience for consideration and needs to consider disability services for people with psychosocial disability related to mental illness.

During December 2012 the Bill to establish the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency was tabled in Parliament. Public comment was sought by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee and the MHCA made this submission with input from its NDIS Special Interest Advisory Group.

The second consultation draft has significantly clarified the framework’s purpose and provides greater clarity around recovery models and the translation of recovery principles into action by mental health services.