Submission

The MHCA strongly supports the development of a social insurance scheme for disability long term care and support in Australia and congratulates the Productivity Commission and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs for tackling such an important and timely task. Effective long term disability support is necessary to meet Australia’s obligations under the United Nation’s Convention on Rights for Persons with a Disability and, most importantly, to rectify the grave and unnecessary injustices faced daily by people with a disability in Australia.

This paper summarises the positions taken by the MHCA and its members in relation to the proposed National Health and Hospitals Network reforms in relation to the mental health sector. These issues are proposed to underpin a whole of sector advocacy position.

The establishment of Local Hospital Networks with local community boards was a key element of the 2010 National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement for Australia’s 780 public hospitals. This paper looks at the commitments made to the establishment of these hospital networks.

The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission made twelve specific recommendations for immediate action for mental health. The government’s response has been to provide a minimum of new funding for just two of the twelve recommendations. This paper analyses the direction and management of the 2010 National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement.