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THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform and Minister for Social InclusionSTATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER 1 February 2012 CHANGES TO BETTER ACCESS In the 2011-12 Budget, the Gillard Government brought in changes to the Better Access program to deliver a mental health package that better targeted and supported some of the most disadvantaged people in our community. The changes to Better Access allow us to rebalance our investments across new and innovative services that target and address mental illness throughout a person’s lifespan. While Better Access was neither designed nor intended to provide intensive services or ongoing therapy for people with severe and persistent mental illness, the Government acknowledges there are some people with more complex needs who have come to rely on the program for support. We recognise that reducing the number of rebatable sessions has caused some community concern and that the new services in our mental health package need to build further capacity before they are fully able to provide care and support to those with more complex needs. We will therefore reinstate the additional 6 services under ‘exceptional circumstances’ for a transitional period to 31 December 2012. The transitional period will provide sufficient time for our new mental health services to build capacity and effectively respond to people with more complex needs. The standard number of rebatable sessions under Better Access will remain at 10, consistent with the program’s focus on people with mental disorders where short term interventions are most likely to be useful. However, this change means that eligible individuals can receive up to 16 services in the transitional period where ‘exceptional circumstances’ apply. In addition, individuals will continue to be able to receive Medicare rebates for ten group therapy services per calendar year on top of their individual sessions. People with more severe and ongoing mental disorders can also be referred to Medicare subsidised consultant psychiatrist services (where 50 sessions can be provided per year), or to other specialised mental health services. Individuals will be eligible for an additional 6 allied mental health services under ‘exceptional circumstances’ from 1 March 2012 until 31 December 2012. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
Nursing ReviewThe advantages of self-regulating The development of specialist nurse credentialing in Australia has the potential to both empower nurses and improve patient care, writes Kim Ryan. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has long recognised that setting standards for nursing education and practice is a major responsibility of organised nursing and a key aspect of nursing's progress as a profession. This extends beyond initial registration and the ICN refers to the application of these standards as credentialing. In Australia credentialing refers to a voluntary self-regulation process carried out by the profession - a process of professional validation by which an individual nurse may be designated as having met established professional standards.
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE Embargoed 4:30PM, 23 January 2012 OPEN FOR BUSINESS: AUSTRALIA’S FIRST NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today launched Australia’s first National Mental Health Commission. Today’s launch marks a significant milestone in the rollout of the Gillard Government’s mental health reforms and will give mental health the prominence it deserves at the national level. The Commission is led by the Chair, Professor Allan Fels and eight Commissioners and will formally meet for the first time tomorrow to begin work on Australia’s first National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Speaking at the official launch in Sydney today, Mr Butler said, “The Commission will put Australia’s mental health services under the spotlight. It will bring much needed transparency to our system – it will give us insights into service gaps, where we need to do more and where services are working and working well.” “One of the Commission’s first priorities will be to deliver the first annual National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention – a key election commitment of the Gillard Government. This is important data that will allow us to monitor whether services are working effectively to deliver lasting outcomes for people with mental illness.” The Commission is one of the key components of the government’s $2.2 billion record mental health reform package. The government has provided $32 million over five years for the establishment and operation of the Commission. “The new Commission will advocate for the needs of consumers and carers, which should be at the front and centre of policy making. We want to ensure these needs are given the priority they warrant by all levels of government,” Professor Fels said. "Governments need to do better in mental health. We hope to help them do that by more clearly identifying the gaps in the system. “Our wide variety of relationships and our independence from the agencies that fund and deliver mental health services will give us a unique perspective from which to provide our public reports and advice.” The eight Commissioners are: The CEO of the Commission is Ms Robyn Kruk AM. For more information, visit www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au Media contact: Virginia Kim (Minister Butler), 0407 415 484
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE Embargoed 12:01am 21 January 2012 NEW ADS ENCOURAGE AUSTRALIANS TO HELP SHAPE MENTAL HEALTH REFORM From today, advertisements are appearing in newspapers across the country inviting Australians with a lived experience of mental illness to help shape national mental health reform. Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today called on interested Australians to apply to become members of the Consumer Reference Group which will help set the directions of the National Mental Health Consumer Organisation. “The new Consumer Reference Group will ensure the views of people living with mental illness are informing the establishment of the forthcoming National Mental Health Consumer Organisation," Mr Butler said. “The Group will have an integral role in advising on policy areas for the new organisation. Importantly, it will lay the groundwork to enable our new mental health consumer body to hit the ground running and bring a strong and consolidated voice to mental health policy in Australia, as quickly as possible. “I encourage people to apply who are committed to a shared vision for an Australia where people with mental health problems and mental illness are better able to participate and be supported in society without discrimination. “It is important that the group has members from different cultural, social, economic and demographic backgrounds so it represents the diversity of lived experience in Australia.” The Consumer Reference Group will operate until the National Mental Health Consumer Organisation establishes a membership and elects a board. The Gillard Labor Government has invested $4 million over five years to establish and operate the new National Mental Health Consumer Organisation as part of its landmark $2.2 billion national mental health reform package. Background: The Department of Health and Ageing will convene a selection panel comprised of consumer, non-government and government representatives to select the Consumer Reference Group. Applicants are invited to submit an expression of interest until 20 February 2012). Information on how to apply is available on the department's Internet site at www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth from 3pm, 20 January 2012. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform and THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Minister for Disability ReformMEDIA RELEASE 17 January 2012 A NEW TEN YEAR PLAN FOR MENTAL HEALTH Today the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, and the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin, invited Australians to help carve out the future of our mental health system with the release of the draft Ten-Year Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform for public consultation. The Roadmap will provide governments, the community sector, workplaces and communities themselves with a measurable, long term national reform plan for mental health which will guide where we focus our attention and funding over the next 10 years and ensure our mental health system ranks as one of the world’s best. “While we’ve taken great strides in how we view and treat mental illness, more needs to be done to provide a system that provides all the levels of care people living with mental illness need, available in the right place and at the right time,” Mr Butler said. “We especially need to target our efforts at those who are hard-to-reach and vulnerable, and stop them from falling between the cracks and from being shunted from one service to another. “We also need to work harder to break down the stigma, discrimination and misunderstanding that often surrounds mental illness.” The Roadmap will identify the most important directions and actions that need to be undertaken to achieve this vision over the next ten years. Ms Macklin said the Roadmap would complement the Government’s progress towards a National Disability Insurance Scheme. “We’re taking big steps to help improve the lives of people with mental illness. As a Labor Government we are committed to making sure that no Australian is left behind, and that everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential,” Ms Macklin said. The community will be able to provide their comments on the Roadmap through a new online tool available from today. “COAG agreed to develop the Roadmap in 2011 and the Australian Government, States and Territories have been working hard alongside mental health experts and consumer and carer representatives to develop this draft,” Mr Butler said. “We want to get this Roadmap right and we want the community to be involved in the process which is why we are making it available for public comment. “The public comments will be used to help finalise the roadmap for COAG to consider in early 2012.” The online survey tool is an open form of consultation to help gather the broadest range of feedback on the draft roadmap. It will be available from today until 1 February 2012 on the mental health page of the Department of Health and Ageing website – www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth The Gillard Labor Government has committed to a record investment of $2.2 billion over five years to build a better mental health system – a system that will work better for consumers, their families, carers and health practitioners alike. Media contact: Minister Butler: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484, Minister Macklin: Keely Bell, 0417 297 157
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMedia release 16 December 2011 3,500 MORE AUSTRALIANS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO GET DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT More than 3,500 Australians living with severe and persistent mental illness will receive day-to-day support to stay connected to their community through arts and crafts workshops, cooking lessons, shopping trips and other social outings. From 1 January 2012, an extra $19.3 million will be provided to community organisations to deliver the Support for Day to Day Living in the Community (D2DL) program. “Australians with a severe mental illness can face significant challenges reconnecting to their community both during and after recovery,” Minister for Mental Health and Ageing and Minister for Social Inclusion, Mark Butler, said today during a visit to the Mental Health Fellowship of South Australia in Wayville. “These Australians are often socially isolated, have low levels of support or are so affected by mental illness that they find it hard to function independently in the community. “Meaningful activity and social connection are critical to people’s recovery from mental illness and Day to Day Living is proven to work, already helping thousands of people to begin their recovery journey. “The extra funding will provide more people with severe mental illness with a friendly environment to help them face the challenge of reengaging in social activities and developing other important life skills, such as cooking, and build their confidence.” The Gillard Labor Government is currently providing around 11,000 Australians living with a mental illness with structured personal and social support through the D2DL program. Since 2006, more than $45 million has been invested in Day to Day Living. “The $19.3 million boost rolls out from January 2012, and existing Day to Day Living program providers will receive a 30 per cent boost to their funding,” Mr Butler said. “With the $19.3 million additional funding, this means in total around $70 million over the next five years will be provided for the program.” The Gillard Labor Government is reforming the mental health system to ensure that people living with a mental illness get appropriate care and support. The additional $19.3 million over five years for the program is part of this year’s $2.2 billion mental health package – the largest in Australian history. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
SANE AustraliaMedia release 0400, 13 December 2011 STIGMA HURTFUL AND COMMON FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS The distress and discrimination many people with a mental illness experience because of stigma associated with their illness is just as widespread as it was five years ago,according to new research by SANE Australia. Three quarters (73%) of the 400+ people recently surveyed by the national mental health charity said they had experienced stigma or discrimination in the last 12 months because of their mental illness. A survey by SANE in 2006 found that 74% of respondents said they had personal experience of stigma. ‘Damaging stereotypes associated with mental illness cause enormous distress and it is really unacceptable that as we approach 2012 so many people still have to combat stigma and discrimination which stops them from living full and satisfying lives,’ says the Executive Director of SANE Australia, Barbara Hocking. Encouragingly, says Ms Hocking, more than three in four (77%) people described media coverage of depression in the last two years as ‘good’ or ‘fair’.However, the majority of respondents described coverage of less common mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder during the same period, as ‘poor’. ‘The more responsible media reporting of depression has encouraged people to start talking about it, to seek help and to feel less excluded,’ Ms Hocking explains. ‘Most people get their information about mental illness from the media and so the way the media portrays these complex issues is important in shaping community understanding and acceptance of people affected,‘ explains the Executive Director. Stigma is hurtful and harmful - it stops people with a mental illness from seeking help. It can lead to discrimination when people with a mental illness seek housing, education and even work. It can also lead to feelings of hopelessness and suicide. ‘Many people report that the stigma they experience is as distressing as the symptoms of their illness,’ says Ms Hocking. ‘We must increase our efforts to educate Australians about illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and support and encourage the media to report responsibly. We also need to hear personal stories directly from people who are affected. ‘Mental illness is common. With one in five of us affected every year, reducing stigma is an important issue for everyone,’ Ms Hocking adds. Media contacts Robyn Thompson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Jeremy Little This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 03 9682 59330414 427 291 SANE Helpline 1800 18 SANE (7263)
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform & THE HON STEVE GEORGANAS MP: Member for HindmarshMEDIA RELEASE Embargoed 12:01am 13 December 2011 ONE MILLION MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED One million therapy sessions have been provided to people with a mental illness under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program. Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas today visited Adelaide Western Division of General Practice to welcome the achievement, pointing out that around 260,000 Australians have benefited from ATAPS since its inception in 2003. ATAPS provides mental health services for people diagnosed with a mental disorder of mild to moderate severity such as depression and anxiety. ATAPS is particularly targeted at people who often miss out on Medicare-subsidised services – such as those less able to pay upfront fees, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, people in rural and remote areas and culturally diverse communities. “We have now provided 1 million services under the program, with improved outcomes in more than 86 per cent of cases,” Mr Butler said. “This is a spectacular achievement and comes a day after the elevation of Mental Health to the Cabinet table. This demonstrates that the Gillard Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its promise to make mental health a priority. “The data also clearly shows that ATAPS is successfully providing care and support for those Australians living with mental illness who need it the most. “Around 50 per cent of patients under ATAPS are low income earners, 41 per cent live in rural and remote Australia, 23 per cent are male and three per cent are Indigenous Australians.” The Gillard Labor Government is investing $205.9 million in this year’s record mental health budget to significantly boost the ATAPS program. As a result, funding for ATAPS in South Australia has risen from $3.7 million last financial year to more than $5.7 million this financial year. Member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas welcomed the funding increase for his local community. “Funding for the Adelaide Western Division of General Practice has increased by more than 96 per cent from $311,000 last financial year to $613,000 this financial year,” Mr Georganas said. “This will mean that more people in Hindmarsh who are diagnosed with mental illness by their GP will be able to obtain the psychological treatment that they need – at low to no cost.” “Since being elected in 2004, I have campaigned for better mental health services for our community. The huge increase in funding for local services shows we are delivering on our promise to make mental health a priority.” In addition to the assistance provided to hard-to-reach groups, dedicated funding is also available to provide innovative services to people who have self harmed or attempted suicide or are at risk of suicide, Indigenous people, children and their families and women with perinatal depression. Media contacts: Virginia Kim (Butler) 0407 415 484 and Hannah Frank (Georganas) 0419 849 048
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE Embargoed 11 December 2011 LEADING AUSTRALIANS TO SPEARHEAD NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH REFORM Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today announced the appointment of the Mental Health Commissioners to Australia’s first National Mental Health Commission (the Commission). “The appointment of the eight Commissioners, alongside the Chair, Professor Allan Fels AO and CEO, Ms Robyn Kruk AM, represents the next major milestone in national mental health reform,” Mr Butler said. “The eight Commissioners bring together a wide range of skills and experience, including from consumer and carer groups, community and social services, mental health and suicide prevention, Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing and academia.” The eight Commissioners are:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission, Ms Robyn Kruk AM will also be an ex-officio Commissioner. “Consumers, carers and mental health advocates have argued strongly for systemic reform that would instil greater accountability and transparency into the system. Australia’s first National Mental Health Commission is aimed at doing just that,” Mr Butler said. “The Commissioners will provide expert and independent advice to the Government on the performance of our mental health system and will monitor whether services are delivering lasting outcomes for people living with a mental illness, their carers and their families. “One of the Commission’s first priorities will be to deliver the first annual National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, delivering on a key election commitment of the Gillard Government. “This will allow consumers and their families to tell if services are genuinely effective and meeting their needs.” “I welcome the appointment of these eight Commissioners and look forward to working with them to give mental health more prominence at the national level,” Mr Fels said. “We will work hand-in-hand with mental health consumers and carers, the mental health sector, State and Territory Governments, State Commissions and a wide range of stakeholders to change the attitudes of Australians toward mental health and to improve services and support for people experiencing mental illness.” Other functions of the Commission include:
A charter outlining the full responsibilities and work of the Commission will be developed for released early in 2012. The National Mental Health Commission is a key component of the Government’s $2.2 billion mental health budget package.The Government has provided $32 million over five years for the establishment and operation of the Commission.The Commission will commence formal activities from 1 January 2012. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484 Biographies for Commissioners Mr Peter Bicknell is currently the Chair of UnitingCare Australia. He is also the Chair of UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide, Portway Housing Association and Adelaide Brighton Cement Community Liaison Group. Mr Bicknell has also served as the Chair of the Council for the Care of Children, was the Chief Executive Officer of UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide for ten years and has previously worked for the Department for Family and Community Services in Director roles. Ms Jackie Crowe works with Ballarat Health Services Area Mental Health Service as a Carer Consultant and is a carer member of the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives. Ms Crowe is ensuring that family/carer perspectives critically inform and enhance decision-making in service provision, policy, and evaluation at local, state and national levels. Dr Pat Dudgeon is the Chair of Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA); a member of the Indigenous Strategies Working Group; a Research Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia; and a member of the Mental Health Expert Working Group. Dr Dudgeon is from the Bardi people of the Kimberley. She is a psychologist and is known for her leadership in Indigenous higher education and is currently the Head of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University. Professor Ian Hickie AM is the Executive Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute (BMRI) at the University of Sydney, a position he has held since 2003 when the BMRI was first established as a flagship. He is recognised for his extensive knowledge and experience in early detection and treatment of depressive disorders. Professor Hickie is one of the first round of National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Fellows; recognising excellence in Australian Medical Research, appointed for the period from 2008-2013. Mr Rob Knowles is a farmer and company director. He has been Chair of the Mental Health Council of Australia since April 2006. Mr Knowles is: a member of the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission; Chair of the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia; Chair of the Royal Children's Hospital Campus Council; and a member of the Board of the Brotherhood of St Lawrence. He is a former Victorian Minister of Health, Housing and Aged Care and has a strong interest in services for consumers and their families and carers. Ms Sam Mostyn is currently the Director of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at the University of Sydney. In this role she is responsible for building collaborative and cross disciplinary projects involving research excellence on a number of sustainability topics. In September 2010 Ms Mostyn was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Virgin Blue Board. Previously she held senior executive positions with Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Optus Communications and Cable & Wireless Plc in London, and was a policy advisor to two Federal Communications Ministers and the Prime Minister Paul Keating. Ms Janet Meagher AM is currently the Divisional Manager of Inclusion for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Australia. She is a representative of the Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia and a founding member of the NSW Consumer Advisory Group. Ms Meagher has been a mental health consumer activist and advocate for almost 30 years. She has lived with schizophrenia since the early 1970’s. Ms Meagher was a Churchill Fellow in 1994, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1996. Professor Ian Webster is a physician and Emeritus Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales and Patron of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia. He has held senior appointments in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales and appointments at Monash, Sheffield and Sydney Universities. He is Chair of the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation; the Governing Council of the Ted Noffs Foundation and; the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity at the University of New South Wales. Professor Webster is also a member of the National Advisory Council on Suicide Prevention and the Australian National Council on Drugs.
The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA)MEDIA RELEASE 11 December 2011 APPOINTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONERS The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) welcomes the appointment of Australia’s first national Mental Health Commissioners. These eight new Commissioners join the newly formed Mental Health Commission under the Chairmanship of Professor Allan Fels AO. “Today marks a new chapter. Today the mental health system will be held to account for how it meets the needs of ordinary Australians, as this new Mental Health Commission reports on the performance of all Australian Governments,” said Frank Quinlan, CEO of the MHCA. “The Minister for Mental Health, Mark Butler, has appointed a diverse and expert group of Commissioners to guide the new national Mental Health Commission and steer the new Road Map to reform over the coming years,” said Frank Quinlan. “The new Mental Health Commissioner gathers mental health consumers and carers, professionals, advocates and community-based experts. The broad experience andexpertise of this group means they can start their important work quickly.” “The creation of a national Mental Health Commission is part of the Government’s ongoing investment and reform agenda in mental health. The establishment of the Commissio nreflects the Government’s commitments to driving accountability, transparency and broader policy engagement and will help shape and direct mental health policy for the future.” “The Mental Health Council of Australia looks forward to working with the new Mental Health Commission and its Commissioners,” Mr Quinlan said. The eight Commissioners are:
Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 0402 613 745 or (02) 6285 3100
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE 8 December 2011 MORE EARLY PSYCHOSIS SERVICES FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS Thousands of young Australians experiencing early psychosis, or psychotic disorders, are a step closer to accessing innovative new youth early psychosis services. The Gillard Government is investing $222.4 million for the establishment of 16 new services and has formally invited State and Territories to partner with the Commonwealth by providing matching contributions. “I have written to the States and Territories seeking expressions of interest for the first round of the national rollout of these 16 new services over the next 5 years,” Mr Butler said. Once these services are up and running, young people will be able to access intensive clinical and non-clinical support including care in the home, case management, pharmacological and psychological treatments and social and vocational recovery programs. “Young people with psychosis struggle to access scarce specialist services and often face lengthy delays between the first experience of symptoms, diagnosis and services actually being delivered,” Mr Butler said. “For the first time the Commonwealth Government is partnering with the States and Territories to ensure more young people get the services they need, when and where they need them”. “Around three out of every 100 young Australians will experience a psychotic episode, but we know that with the right care, most will make a good recovery from the experience. “Intervening early allows young people to get the specialist clinical care they need and to stay in or resume education or employment, and better manage their illness – instead of leading to a lifetime of isolation.” Together with the States and Territories, the Gillard Government will establish these new services in areas with a high incidence of youth mental health problems and where there is sound infrastructure and the capability to provide these services. Each service, when fully established, will be able to provide up to 700 young people experiencing early or first episodes of psychosis with access to intensive support annually. This expansion will be based on the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) model developed by former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry. The Gillard Government recognises the States and Territories are delivering a range of early psychosis services and other services for people with severe and persistent mental illness. “That is why our investment aims to complement existing youth mental health services and we will work with States and Territories to deliver a service that best meets the needs of local communities,” Mr Butler said. The Expressions of Interest process closes in early January. States and Territories are encouraged to submit proposals. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE 7 December 2011 VOICE FOR CONSUMERS IN MENTAL HEALTH REFORM The establishment of a new national mental health consumer organisation has moved a step closer, with the Gillard Government focused firmly on ensuring it will be driven by consumers, for consumers. Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today announced the establishment of a new Consumer Reference Group which will assist in setting the directions of the new organisation and setting up mechanisms to involve consumers from the beginning. The Group will be appointed following a national call for Expressions of Interest in early January 2012. The Government has already announced that the new mental health consumer organisation will operate under an auspice arrangement to ensure it is established as quickly as possible, and has the best possible chance of sustainable impact and success over the longer term. “I want this new consumer organisation engaged in national mental health reform as soon as is feasibly possible. It will bring a strong and consolidated consumer voice which will contribute to more responsive and accountable mental health policy and program directions,” Mr Butler said. “It is important for the new consumer organisation to be established, operational, and engaging with its constituents so it is working in pace with mental health reform activities.” The new consumer organisation will work closely with Australia’s first National Mental Health Commission, also announced in the Budget. Mr Butler also released the Final Report of the Scoping Study, Establishment of a New Peak National Mental Health Consumer Organisation (March 2010). This report informs options for establishing a new mental health consumer organisation and provides a number of key recommendations including:
The Government released a detailed response to the scoping study today. “I look forward to working with the mental health consumer sector towards our shared vision for improved health and quality of life, social justice and inclusion outcomes for people with mental illness,” Mr Butler said. Further information about the national call for Expressions of Interest will be available in January at: www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth The Final Report of the Scoping Study and the Government’s response is available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-consume Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE 30 November 2011 UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH BETTER RESEARCH Mental health research in Australia is being massively boosted by the Gillard Labor Government with $26.2 million to go towards research into better mental health treatment and improved clinical outcomes. This is the first time in Australian history that any Government has made a strategic and targeted investment in mental health research. Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today announced how the Government’s Budget commitment to strengthen Australia’s strategic research capacity would be allocated and implemented by the National Health and Medical Research Council. In summary, the NHMRC will:
“The Gillard Labor Government identified mental health as a priority for this term of Government and we’re now delivering the single largest investment in new initiatives in our nation’s history,” Mr Butler said. “But, we also want to see long term improvements in the treatment and prevention of mental illness which is why we are making this strategic and targeted investment in mental health research. “This is the first time any Government has made a strategic investment in mental health research and will ensure that we continue to build capacity in the mental health research workforce. “Our investment in mental health research will ensure that the Gillard Government continues to deliver evidence-based policies to improve treatments and health services for all Australians with a mental illness.” Applications for the Centres of Research Excellence funding scheme close on 30 January 2012. Applications for the Targeted Call for Research close on 4 April 2012. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
THE HON CHRIS BOWEN MP: Minister for Immigration and CitizenshipMEDIA RELEASE 25 November 2011 BRIDGING VISAS TO BE ISSUED FOR BOAT ARRIVALS The first group of irregular maritime arrivals (IMAs) will be placed in the community on bridging visas in coming days, as part of the new approach to asylum seeker management, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced today. The Government announced last month that following initial health, security and identity checks, eligible boat arrivals who do not pose risks will be progressively considered for community placement on bridging visas while their asylum claims are assessed. “The Malaysia Arrangement presented a genuinely innovative regional and humanitarian response to the people smuggling problem, but the High Court’s decision and Tony Abbott putting his political interests ahead of the national interest, prevent the Government from pursuing this option,” Mr Bowen said. “In recent weeks, my department has been working on a framework and implementation arrangements for community placement of IMAs currently in detention. Following this work, I have now approved the first bridging visas for 27 asylum seekers who arrived by boat.” Mr Bowen said the first group consisted of long-term detainees, all single men, previously accommodated at a range of detention facilities across Australia and at various stages of their asylum claims. They are mostly Afghans and Sri Lankans. “These men have gone through an assessment process prior to their selection, including identity, security and behaviour checks. They will live in the community on bridging visas while their asylum claims are completed and their status is resolved,” he said. “People released into the community on bridging visas will have reporting conditions and anyone found breaching these conditions risk having their visas cancelled and being returned to immigration detention.” Asylum seekers on bridging visas will have the right to work and support themselves, and will also have access to necessary health services. Some will also be eligible for support services through existing Department of Immigration and Citizenship-funded programs such as the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme and the Community Assistance Support program, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Mr Bowen said the department was continuing to assess the detention population for suitability for community placement, with initial priority going to those who have spent the greatest time in detention. “This will be an ongoing, staged process to ensure an orderly transition to the community and that only suitable people are released. We would expect to see at least 100 IMAs eventually being released every month,” Mr Bowen said. “The program is not targeted at people currently in detention who aren’t refugees and refuse to cooperate with the department on removal options. “Those people who are assessed to pose an unacceptable risk to the community will remain in an immigration detention facility. “Our existing community detention program, and the greater level of support it offers, will continue to be used for more vulnerable people or those not suited to bridging visas. “The Government remains committed to maintaining a mandatory detention system, including using mandatory detention on Christmas Island for reception and initial checks.” Mr Bowen said as part of the changes to asylum seeker management and processing, the Government would also be moving to a single protection visa process for both boat and air arrivals, using the current onshore arrangements for application and independent review through the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) system, as needed. “With the legislative impasse and the resulting move toward greater community placement, there is no longer any benefit to parallel processing arrangements for offshore entry persons,” he said.“It is only prudent to introduce a single, consistent and efficient process that will continue to afford all people using the system access to judicial review. "However, we will maintain the excision architecture, so should Tony Abbott and the Coalition come to their senses and agree to vote for the Government's legislation then a parallel, non-statutory review process for IMAs will resume. "Until these policy changes are implemented in 2012, existing and future boat arrivals will continue to be processed under the current system. The Government has today also released the review by Professor John McMillan into the efficiency of judicial review of IMA cases, which was commissioned following the High Court of Australia’s judgment in November last year. Mr Bowen said the Government had broadly accepted the review’s recommendations and thanked Professor McMillan for his thoughtful analysis of the legal and policy issues involved. “These recommendations complement measures the Government has already taken to enhance the efficiency of processing of claims made by boat arrivals,” he said. The McMillan Review can be found at: www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/pdf/2011/mcmillan-review-regulating-migration-litigation.pdf The Government’s response to the report’s recommendations can be viewed at: www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/pdf/2011/government-response-mcmillan-review-111124.pdf Media Contacts: Bill Kyriakopoulos 0400 510 802 / Laura Stevens 0432 833 769
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing & SENATOR JAN MCLUCAS: Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and CarersMEDIA RELEASE 22 November 2011 SUPPORTING AUSTRALIANS WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL DISABILITY Supporting people with a psychosocial disability is the focus of report released today that will help to further develop mental health policy in Australia. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas launched the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) Position Statement Unravelling Psychosocial Disability, which focuses on psychosocial disability associated with mental health conditions, in Parliament House, Canberra. “Unravelling Psychosocial Disability gives a detailed summary of the best practice approaches to improve support services and care for people with a psychosocial disability,” Senator McLucas said. Psychosocial disability is the term that mental health consumers and carers use to describe the disability experience of people with impairments and participation restrictions related to mental health conditions. “We know that parents and carers of people with psychosocial disability face many difficult and complex challenges, and are at risk of feeling isolated and unsupported. “Unravelling Psychosocial Disability describes the kind of care and support mental health consumers and carers would like to see provided. Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said it is important that we have effective and consistent support services, which provide more opportunity for people with a disability and their carers to participate in the community. “This is why the Australian Government is investing $571 million in mental health services essential for the recovery of people with severe mental illness to participate in social and community life, find and keep a job, improve relationships with family and friends and help manage the tasks of everyday life,” he said. “We are working to lay the foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme that would provide people with disability with the care and support they need over the course of their lifetime,” Senator McLucas said. “The Government has agreed with state and territory governments to lay the foundations for launch of a National Disability Insurance Scheme by mid-2013—a year ahead of the timetable set out by the Productivity Commission. “We want to see improvements to disability care and support as quickly as possible. Minister Butler and Senator McLucas commend the NMHCCF Working Group for providing the Australian Government with invaluable information to help further develop better services and support for people with psychosocial disability. For more information go to www.fahcsia.gov.au. Media Contact: Belinda Featherstone (McLucas) 0408 743 457
SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG: Australian Greens' Spokesperson for ImmigrationMEDIA RELEASE 18 November 2011 MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT CONFIRMS DETENTION PROVIDERS NOT FOLLOWING IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT PROTOCOLS: GREENS An expert advising the federal government has told an inquiry there is confusion between detention contractors and the Immigration Department about protocols for handling detainees with mental illnesses, the Australian Greens said today. “Professor Louise Newman has confirmed what we had long suspected – that decisions and protocols made by staff in detention centres on the welfare and health of fragile detainees is not in line with best practice or well-understood medical standards,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “Prof. Newman gave examples including the distance between a detainee on suicide watch and a Serco guard is not considered to be best practice. “Prof. Newman said failure to follow the department’s own Psychological Support Programme has led to substandard protocols, which could be more damaging to asylum seekers. “Her evidence today has reinforced what the Greens have long advocated – that only people with the proper mental health qualifications should be working with asylum seekers, not inadequately trained security guards. Every detention centre needs to have a resident psychiatrist, and medical help must be available 24-hours a day. “Other experts have told the hearing that there need to be time limits on detention and for children and their families to be living in the community after initial health and security checks have been done. “The Greens have a bill to restrict detention to 30 days, and for a judicial review for anyone authorities claim need to be held for longer.” Sen. Hanson-Young is deputy chair of the joint select committee into the immigration detention network, which is sitting in Melbourne. Media contact: Paris Lord 0427 604 760
SENATOR KIM CARR: Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research & THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Federal Member for Port AdelaideMEDIA RELEASE Thursday, 17 November 2011 COLLABORATION FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH Early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and psychoses will come a step closer with today’s official launch of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Mental Health. The CRC will receive more than $23 million in Australian Government funding, to focus on biomarkers for diagnosing the early onset of neurodegenerative diseases - including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases - and psychoses such as schizophrenia. Minister for Innovation Senator Kim Carr today highlighted the importance of the CRC for Mental Health. “Nearly half of all Australians will experience a mental illness at some stage in their lives, and we know that mental illness impacts on individuals, their families and the community, at considerable personal, social and economic cost. “Strong, cross-sector collaborations are critical in tackling major challenges. The CRC for Mental Health draws together world-class researchers and brings an integrated and collaborative approach to addressing mental health issues,” Senator Carr said. Minister for Mental Health and Ageing the Hon Mark Butler MP welcomed the launch of the new CRC. “In addition to providing new mental health services as part of our record $2.2 billion budget, we are investing heavily in research so that we can better understand how to prevent and treat mental illness. “We also need to build capacity in the mental health research workforce – an issue that has been raised in my consultations with the mental health sector,” Mr Butler said. More accurate diagnosis of disorders will help enable early treatment, with the aim of delaying onset, or reducing severity of disease - improving quality of life for the many Australians directly affected, and reducing the social and economic impact for the whole community. The CRC program is an Australian Government initiative which has invested more than $3.4 billion to enable 190 CRCs in a diverse range of sectors to address major challenges facing Australia, many of them global. CRC participants have contributed a further $10.9 billion in cash and in-kind support. For more information on Australia’s CRCs visit www.crc.gov.au. Media contacts: Minister's Office, 02 6277 7580 Anthony Murfett, Department, 02 6213 7490, 0451 631
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGEINGLETTER TO STAKEHOLDERS 11 November 2011 SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE DELIVERY GRANTS FUND AND THE NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION TREATMENT GRANTS PROGRAM - OPENING OF GRANTS FUNDING APPLICATION ROUND Dear stakeholder, I am writing to inform you that the open competitive funding rounds under the Australian Government’s new Substance Misuse Service Delivery Grants Fund (the Fund) and the Non Government Organisation Treatment Grants Program (NGOTGP) will be released on Monday 14 November 2011. While the NGOTGP has not been consolidated into the Fund, to reduce the administrative burden on organisations wishing to apply for funding under both the Fund and the NGOTGP, the funding application processes will be concurrent. The funding rounds will be widely published, commencing on the 14 November 2011 and closing on Friday 23 December 2011 in all major newspapers including Indigenous specific and rural and remote newspapers. Additionally, the application will be advertised through ‘ADCA Update’, a free bulletin board service provided by the Alcohol and other Drugs Council Of Australia and listed on www.GrantsLink.gov.au. Organisations interested in applying for funding under either the Fund and / or the NGOTGP must address the assessment criteria in the format outlined in the Invitation to Apply (ITA) and in accordance with the separate Guidelines for each funding stream available by registering on the Department’s Tenders and Grants internet site at www.health.gov.au/tenders. Further information about both the Fund and the NGOTGP funding arrangements can be found on the Department’s website from Monday 14 November 2011 at www.health.gov.au. Any difficulties in accessing either of the above mentioned sites and / or any questions you may have in relation to the Fund should be emailed to the dedicated mailbox, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Questions in relation to the NGOTGP should be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . In the interests of further streamlining grant processes for applicants the Department is also advertising the following flexible funding rounds:
Information for all flexible funding is available on the Department’s Tenders and Grants internet site at www.health.gov.au/tenders. Yours sincerely Gayle Anderson
THE HON JULIA GILLARD PM: Prime Minister & THE HON CHRISTOPHER EVANS MP: Minister for Workplace RelationsMEDIA RELEASE 10 November 2011 GILLARD GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER HISTORIC PAY RISE FOR SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY WORKERS Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced the Government was prepared to provide over $2 billion to deliver an historic pay rise to 150,000 of Australia’s lowest paid workers in the social and community services sector - the vast majority of them women. This is an important step on the road to closing the long-standing pay gap between men and women and delivering fairness to the workplace. Workers in this sector have been underpaid for too long because their work was viewed as women’s work. They work in incredibly challenging jobs, including:
They deserve to be properly rewarded for their work. The Government will put a joint submission on equal pay with the Australian Services Union to the independent umpire, Fair Work Australia. To back up its commitment the Government is prepared to provide over $2 billion to fund its share of any wage increases awarded. The Government expects major providers and other unions will join us in the submission. If the submission is accepted, these workers would for the first time be given a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Of the 150,000 workers in the sector, 120,000 are women. Fair Work Australia has already found that their work is undervalued because of gender considerations. If FWA agrees to the Government’s proposal on the extent of this undervaluation, this will deliver very significant pay rises. The Government also encourages state and territory governments to commit to funding their share of the cost of closing the gender pay gap. In 2011, it is unacceptable that women earn on average one fifth less than men full-time – the equivalent of working nearly seven weeks a year for free. The historic case currently before Fair Work Australia was only made possible because Labor removed the barriers to pay equity claims in the federal jurisdiction. Previously, an applicant had to prove discrimination, and the legal test only allowed comparison between “equal work” rather than the new broader test of “equal or comparable work”. As a result, no equal remuneration case has to date succeeded under federal workplace relations law. With Fair Work Australia’s approval, the increases would be phased-in over six years, starting on 1 December next year. The phased introduction recognises the complex funding arrangements in the sector, which involve local, state and territory governments, not for profit organisations, commercial providers and the Commonwealth. This will allow community sector organisations delivering Commonwealth-funded programs to pay the new rates, without reducing services to the community. The Government will also increase funding under Commonwealth-State agreements that cover social and community sector employees. Every day the community sector delivers vital services to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Australians. We want to make sure the community sector is strong and productive into the future. Through the Community Sector Wages Group the Government has been working with all parties to examine the potential implications of a pay increase, taking into account the need to ensure a sustainable and effective social and community services sector. The Government will now work with the sector to identify opportunities for reform, from both Government and service providers, to strengthen and improve service delivery, and reduce red tape for the sector. The Government is committed to the consultation process announced by the Minister for Workplace Relations and which will be undertaken by Mr Arch Bevis to resolve issues relating to certain employees and employers in Queensland covered by an order made by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in 2009. The Government expects this process to conclude by 30 November 2011. Improving women’s earning capacity and expanding their choice of jobs will not only aid women’s own economic security, but will lift our country’s productivity. Consistent with the Government’s record of strict fiscal discipline, any expenditure will be offset and will be reflected in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). The Government will continue to work with industry and union leaders to close the pay gap. Media contact: Press Office (02) 6277 7744, Minister Evans' Office (02) 6277 7320
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMental Health Matters 17 October 2011 AN UPDATE ON REFORM FROM THE MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH It’s been more than twelve months since I was appointed Australia’s first Commonwealth Mental Health Minister. Following Mental Health Week it’s timely to provide an update on mental health reform. Delivering the Mental Health Reform Package This package of reforms will fundamentally change the mental health system. It will provide greater access to mental health services as well as social support, housing, education and employment services for people with a mental illness. The package intentionally looks at mental illness as more than just a health issue and includes initiatives to improve economic and social participation for people with a mental illness. It also expands community mental health services, including family support and respite services. The new National Mental Health Commission will be crucial to supporting this approach. The Delivering Mental Health Reform Package is also balanced to take action across a person’s life and the spectrum of mental illness they may face during their life. It has a strong focus on prevention and early intervention, acknowledging the early age of onset for mental illness and current barriers to accessing help. Arguably most importantly, this package also signals the Gillard Government’s commitment to ongoing mental health reform through a range of measures. Council of Australian Governments (COAG) COAG agreed to develop a new National Partnership Agreement on Mental Health to help address major gaps in our mental health system. Through this new partnership the Gillard Government will provide $200 million over five years to the States and Territories to help address service gaps in accommodation support and improving presentation, admission and discharge planning and support for people with a mental illness who frequently present at emergency departments. The Prime Minister also secured COAG’s agreement to develop a 10-year Roadmap for mental health reform. The Roadmap will chart what Australia’s mental health system should look like in ten years, setting out the priorities and sequencing of reforms across a range of government services. It was agreed that COAG would consider both the National Partnership and the Roadmap by the end of 2011. Officials from the Commonwealth are also currently in discussion with officials from State and Territory Governments regarding the roll out of new early psychosis services for young people. The National Mental Health Commission The Commission will play a key role in the Government’s commitment to long-term reforms in mental health and will: • manage and administer the Annual National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention; • monitor and report on the performance of the mental health system including through ongoing evaluation of the Ten Year Roadmap for Mental Health Reform which is currently being developed; • develop, collate and analyse data and reports with a particular focus on ensuring a cross sectoral perspective is taken to mental health reform; • provide mental health policy advice to Government in consultation with relevant agencies; and • engage consumer and carers in mental health policy and service improvements. The Commission will be independent and report to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has also appointed me as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform. This appointment recognises that mental illness is not just a health issue, but is a whole-of-life issue and further demonstrates the Gillard Government’s ongoing commitment to mental health reform. I know that there is a lot of interest in the Commission and we will be continuing to consult the mental health sector, including consumers and carers, about the role of the new Commission. Consultation The Government recognises the importance of ongoing consultation; that’s why a number of new or updated advisory groups have been established, including: e-mental health, Indigenous Mental Health, ATAPS, Indigenous Suicide Prevention and a soon to be announced group to advise on the new $549 million Partners in Recovery Initiative. I recently also asked the AGPN to host a consultation on this initiative. The Mental Health Expert Working Group will continue to meet until the end of the year and I have in the last month announced the re-appointment of the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. I also recently announced that the Children’s Expert Advisory group, to advise on the social and emotional wellbeing content in the new 3 year old healthy kids check, would be chaired by respected paediatrician, Professor Frank Oberklaid. I have also sought to ensure that in all of these consultations the voices of consumers and carers are heard. I met recently again with the Consumer and Carer Forum of Australia and participated in another online consultation, hosted by the Inspire Foundation, with young mental health consumers. A report from this consultation will be available on the Inspire Foundation’s website soon. Better Access There is currently a Senate Inquiry underway that has considered the package, including changes to Better Access. The changes will come into effect on 1 November. The Government hasn’t taken the decision to make changes to Better Access lightly, but we believe that Australians should have access to the right care for their needs. These changes mean that new services, better targeted services and more effective services will be available to better ensure that this happens. Mental Health and Insurance As such, I asked the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Bill Shorten, to put this issue on the agenda for the first meeting of the Insurance Reform Advisory Group (IRAG) on 5 September. With the help of the Mental Health Council of Australia, Beyond Blue and the Human Rights Commission, it was agreed that government, the insurance industry and the mental health sector will work together to improve insurance options for people with mental illness in the following areas: • Improving and increasing education and awareness about mental health and insurance processes for: consumers and carers; insurance, superannuation and financial planning sector staff; mental health professionals; and the general community • Standardising mental health conditions and how they are categorised for the insurance industry • Development and adoption of voluntary guidelines • Development of a more effective complaints process. It was also agreed to form a working party to begin this work and report back to IRAG early next year. I hope to be able to provide further updates on this in the future. It’s been a big year for mental health reform and there is more to come. I hope you have found this update useful and I am always happy to hear from you by contacting me at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Regards, Mark Butler MP Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE 17 October 2011 $35.7 MILLION FOR RESEARCH INTO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH Australians living with mental illness will benefit from 61 new research grants announced today by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler. Researchers across Australia will receive $35.7 million, through the National Health and Medical Research Council, to fund research into the mental health disorders that affect one in five Australians at some point in their life. “Australia has a strong history of pushing the boundaries in successful mental health research. Australians developed the first effective drug treatment for mental health, new diagnostic methods and early intervention to ensure that young people receive the care that they need,” Mr Butler said. “The grants announced today will ensure that both young and established researchers are supported to develop successful careers in mental health research, ensuring that Australia continues to contribute to better diagnosis, care and recovery.” Mental health researchers will be funded to work across the range of mental health disorders including the link between diet and depression, hormonal effects on the development of schizophrenia and depression in heart attack survivors. Mental disorders in men and role of diet are the focus of research being carried out by Dr Felice Jacka of Deakin University. Following on from her successful research into women’s mental health, Dr Jacka will receive $292,900 to determine the extent to which diet quality is linked to depression and anxiety in men. Professor Cynthia Weickert of the University of New South Wales will receive $328,175 to investigate how sex hormones potentially influence the onset of schizophrenia in young men. This research has the potential to support the development of gender and age specific prevention and treatment, reducing psychosis, social and occupational dysfunction and difficulties in thinking in vulnerable groups. Professor Brian Oldenburg of Monash University will receive $851,075 to research the complex biological and psychological relationships between depression/anxiety and heart disease in people who have survived a heart attack, to reduce the burden on the healthcare system as well as individual patient’s lives. Further information on all NHMRC grants announced today can be found at www.nhmrc.gov.au. Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484.
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE 15 October 2011 ALLAN FELS AO TO HEAD UP AUSTRALIA’S FIRST NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION Professor Allan Fels AO will chair the nation’s first National Mental Health Commission, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced today. Professor Fels is best known as the former head of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. He is currently Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), Chairman of the Haven Foundation and a Patron and participant in numerous mental health organisations. The appointment of Professor Fels AO represents a major step towards the establishment of the new independent Commission. “Professor Fels will work closely with the CEO, Robyn Kruk and Commissioners who will be drawn from a range of areas to provide independent advice to the Government on national mental health reform,” Mr Butler said. “Professor Fels has been deeply involved in mental health for more than a decade and has personal experience as the carer of a daughter with mental illness. “As former head of the ACCC, Professor Fels brings significant experience in governance and advocacy to the role. He proved very effective in raising the profile of consumer protection in Australia and I’m confident he will do the same for mental health.” The Commission will provide cross-sectoral leadership in mental health and drive transparency and accountability in the system to deliver better outcomes for consumers and carers. “The new Commission will advocate that the needs of consumers and carers are front and centre of policy making and that these needs are given the priority they warrant by all levels of Government,” Professor Fels said. The key aim of the Commission will be to measure and independently report on what is happening in our mental health system. The Commission’s responsibilities include:
The Commission will report to the Prime Minister and its first task will be to produce a National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in 2012, delivering on a key election commitment of the Gillard Government. Through the 2011-12 Budget, the Gillard Government is investing $32 million to establish the new Commission. Media Contact: For interviews with the Minister or Professor Fels, please contact Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484.
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health ReformMEDIA RELEASE 12 October 2011 FURTHER EVIDENCE OF RECORD INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES New data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that spending on mental health related services is continuing at record levels. The data shows that around $5.9 billion is spent on mental health services each year and that spending on mental health-related services has increased by an average of 4.8 per cent per Australian between 2004–05 and 2008–09. "This record spending in mental health is continuing through this year's Budget which included the single largest investment in mental health in the nation's history with more than $2.2 billion in new measures," Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said today. The new data is available on a new website being launched today during National Mental Health Week by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler. “I congratulate the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on this terrific effort in making data about the national response to the mental health care needs of Australians more transparent and easy to access”, Mr Butler said. "The release of the new data and website comes at a time of increasing public interest in mental health, as well as at a time of unprecedented commitment by an Australian Government to deliver mental health reforms that will help to ensure the millions of Australians living with mental illness get the care they need, when they need it. "The Gillard Government understands the critical importance of access to, and development of, quality mental health information at a national level. "Such information is critical to making decisions, informing policy, shaping services and guiding reform. The new online website will take a lead role in providing this information and will help us to know what’s working and what’s not – and where the gaps are." The new website will complement the work of the new National Mental Health Commission in driving a more accountable and transparent mental health system. "The Commission will benefit and draw from the information available on the new website in carrying out its work, particularly the National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention every year. "The new website builds on the Gillard Governments efforts to support more transparent and open government through other initiatives such as the MySchool and MyHospitals websites. The Institute will also produce an annual summary document to provide a yearly snapshot of what the data show. The first of these, Mental Health Services: In brief 2011 is already available, on the website and as a printed booklet. The AIHW’s new onlinehttp://mhsa.aihw.gov.au Media contact: Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONMEDIA RELEASE 29 September 2011 MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS ON INDEFINITE DETENTION A MAJOR CONCERN AT CURTIN DETENTION CENTRE The Australian Human Rights Commission has raised serious concerns about the mental health impacts of indefinite detention on people held at the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre. Releasing a report on a visit to the centre, Commission President Catherine Branson QC said the Commission is worried about high rates of self-harm at the Curtin centre, which now holds the highest number of detainees. “Detainees talked about the impacts of being deprived of their liberty for a long time with no certainty about their release date and of long delays with processing of their refugee claims,” Ms Branson said. At the time of the Commission’s visit, more than three quarters of people detained at Curtin had been detained for longer than six months and more than one third had been detained for longer than a year. Ms Branson said the extremely remote location, the harsh physical environment, crowded dormitories and limited access to communication facilities had exacerbated frustration levels at the centre. “Detaining people, many of whom have fled experiences of torture or trauma, for long and uncertain periods in a remote area with limited access to specialist health and mental health services has the potential to be extremely harmful,” she said. Ms Branson said detainees told the Commission of their difficulties coping with the isolation caused by being detained in such a remote location. “They are also witnessing the alarming mental health breakdown of fellow detainees including self-harm incidents and an apparent suicide earlier this year, and some of them say they fear they will ‘go mad’ if they are held in detention much longer,” said Ms Branson. “One Afghan man told us, ‘We feel that we have lost everything here – our hope, our health, our memories, our names, our ability to help our families, our minds. We are more than half way to dead now. We are all dying here, from the inside out. We see others who have gone mad and think that we are going there too.’ Ms Branson said the visit to the Curtin centre, which held 1433 men at the time, reinforced the Commission’s longstanding concerns about Australia’s immigration detention system. “Our concerns have escalated over the past two years as the number of people in detention has grown, people have been detained for longer periods and incidents of self-harm and suicide have increased,” she said. “Australia’s system of mandatory and indefinite detention is unnecessary, counter-productive and extremely costly. Instead of sending asylum seekers to third countries or subjecting them to indefinite detention in remote facilities, we should be using cheaper and more humane alternatives like bridging visas and community detention.” Ms Branson acknowledged the efforts of staff working at the Curtin detention centre, but said urgent reforms were needed to end the practice of indefinite detention in remote locations and to address delays with processing of refugee claims. The Commission’s report is available at: and photos taken during the Commission’s visit to Curtin IDC are available at: Up to the minute information on human rights is now available on twitter at twitter.com/AusHumanRights. MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Nehme (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
SENATOR STEPHEN CONROY: Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy & MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and AgeingMEDIA RELEASE 29 June 2011
Senate Inquiry Announced 23 June 2011Here are the details of the Senate Inquiry agreed to 23 June 2011. Details of the Inquiry will be available soon on the Parliament website Senator FIERRAVANTI-WELLS: I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move the motion as amended: Thursday, 23 June 2011 SENATE 27 CHAMBER That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 August 2011: The Government‘s funding and administration of mental health services in Australia, with particular reference to: (a) the Government‘s 2011 12 Budget changes relating to mental health; (b) changes to the Better Access Initiative, including: (i) the rationalisation of general practitioner (GP) mental health services, (ii) the rationalisation of allied health treatment sessions, (iii) the impact of changes to the Medicare rebates and the two tiered rebate structure for clinical assessment and preparation of a care plan by GPs, and (iv) the impact of changes to the number of allied mental health treatment services for patients with mild or moderate mental illness under the Medicare Benefits Schedule; (c) the impact and adequacy of services provided to people with mental illness through the Access to Allied Psychological Services program; (d) services available for people with severe mental illness and the coordination of those services; (e) mental health workforce issues, including: (i) the two-tiered Medicare rebate system for psychologists, (ii) workforce qualifications and training of psychologists, and (iii) workforce shortages; (f) the adequacy of mental health funding and services for disadvantaged groups, including: (i) culturally and linguistically diverse communities, (ii) Indigenous communities, and (iii) people with disabilities; (g) the delivery of a national mental health commission; and (h) the impact of online services for people with a mental illness, with particular regard to those living in rural and remote locations and other hard to reach group groups; and (j) any other related matter. Question agreed to.
MARK BUTLER MP: Minister for Mental Health and AgeingAddress to the National Press Club ‘Delivering a better mental health system for all Australians’ Canberra 24 May 2011 Thank you Laurie and thank you for inviting me to address you today, at what is a challenging but exciting time to be involved in Mental Health. Challenging because mental health – or, more particularly, mental illness – affects almost every Australian. One in six of us experience a mental illness in any given year – one in three at some point in our lives. And very few of the rest of us aren’t called on at some point to provide support to a family member, friend or workmate who’s directly affected. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given these numbers, mental illness is the largest single cause of disability, responsible for fully one quarter of the total burden of non-fatal disease in Australia. But exciting because of the momentum that has built up behind reforming our mental health system. For decades, Mental health advocates have argued – with considerable justification in my view – that mental health has for too long been the ‘Cinderella’ of Australian health policy and health politics. All that changed over the course of the past year or so, and the Glass Slipper was well and truly produced and fitted very neatly in this month’s Budget. The past year has seen an unprecedented level of community debate and discussion about the future of mental health services in this country. It has been a passionate, often fiery debate because people care deeply about mental health, whether they work in the area, are a consumer or carer, or just part of the broader community. So it’s good to have this opportunity to talk about mental health and more particularly, mental health reform. There are three areas I’d like to focus on today. Firstly, the dynamics in mental health over the past year or so and our engagement with the sector leading into the budget. Secondly, the details of the Budget package and the breadth of its scope And thirdly, the ongoing reform challenge in this area and elements of our package that aim to lock in a sustained and more transparent long term agenda for change. But let me begin with a frank acknowledgement. Community concern has been building about the adequacy of our mental health system for some years – the implicit compact in the process of deinstitutionalisation, namely that adequate services and supported accommodation would be provided in the community, was frankly not honoured - at least not in full. The evidence of gaps in services and supports at a community level has been there for all to see – on our streets, in our emergency departments and, all too often, in the suicide statistics. Australians have been awake to it for some time. Late last year, a British University, Kings College, published research conducted for it by Ipsos MORI. That research asked more than 1000 Australians and similar numbers in seven other countries a series of questions including – what are the two or three greatest challenges facing your country? Australians, like most, nominated the economy and climate change as the top two challenges. Uniquely, though, Australians placed “mental health” at number three on their list. Fully 35% of Australians nominated “mental health” compared to an average in other nations of just 10%. Australians were also unusual in nominating “ageing” as fourth on their list – which started to make me as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing feel a little pressured – but that’s a topic for another day. A great deal of credit for the creation of such community pressure for change lies with a long list of people who have spoken openly of their own experiences with mental illness. It’s hard to remember how brave it was of Jeff Kennett at the time to talk about his own battle with depression. People like Geoff Gallop and Andrew Robb have added to that, as have many other public figures. John Brogden’s open way of talking about his own attempt at suicide has been incredibly powerful as has Jessica Rowe’s testimony about her experience with post-natal depression. All of those acts of courage built on a foundation of stubborn and relentless advocacy by countless consumers, carers and service providers – many of whom had struggled to achieve deinstitutionalisation and the mainstreaming of mental health, only to become so disappointed with the lack of follow-up. But it seems to me that the role of Patrick McGorry as Australian of the Year last year gave all of that long advocacy and deep community unease a shape and a profile that the cause had lacked previously. While he had many allies – not least being the connections through GetUp – Professor McGorry was personally relentless in his use of his position last year to create a sense of urgency for change. And all of that, in my view, is how mental health came to be – for the first time ever – a first order issue in the Federal election campaign. Labor heard the community’s message loud and clear that as a nation we had to do better in mental health and the Prime Minister expressly committed a re-elected Gillard Government to doing just that. The Prime Minister’s first down payment on that commitment was to create the first ever Commonwealth Ministry for Mental Health. My instructions were clear – take the time needed to engage properly with mental health stakeholders to understand precisely what their priorities were – and to present the Prime Minister and the Cabinet with some clear options for reform. The Prime Minister has been equally clear that mental health reform must build on the broader process of health reform being led by Nicola Roxon – rejecting the view that Tony Abbott litigated last year that the community had to choose between the two reform ambitions. The Prime Minister has also stressed that mental health reform depends on much more than health policy – good mental health, particularly for the severely ill, depends as much upon things like housing, employment, education, personal and family support. To that end, the PM established a cross-portfolio working group co-ordinated by me, but reporting to her, that marshalled the resources of all relevant Ministers and Departments. The group included well known figures like Professor McGorry, Ian Hickie, Monsignor David Cappo and Christine Bennett as well as consumer and carer representatives, paediatric, GP and psychology experts, and the leaders of Mission Australia and Employment Services Australia. While it might surprise some, this level of cross portfolio collaboration is not especially common. There is a natural tendency for agencies to stick to their own departmental silos. We know, though, that the challenge of dealing with serious disadvantage – or what is now described as social exclusion – is not so much about brand new ideas – because there aren’t many ideas that are brand new. Instead, it’s about the development of policy, the design of programs and the delivery of government services being seamless – getting to a position where the public get the range of services they need without having to work out for themselves what the ingredients are and how they get them. This Budget delivers the largest package of new mental health measures in our history. It should be remembered that the Howard Government’s package of $1.9 billion over five years was delivered in the middle of a four year period when the Commonwealth’s revenue was revised upwards by more than $300 billion over the forward estimates. The Gillard Government’s package of $2.2 billion - $2.5 billion if you include measures that Tony Abbott includes in his costings – has been delivered in a period when revenue has been cumulatively revised downwards by $130 billion from pre-GFC levels. Other than for its size, though, this Package is notable for the breadth of its scope, and for its truly reformist bent. Tony Abbott’s mental health policy last year was rightly criticised for its singular focus on one age group – teenagers and very young adults. The Government’s package addresses the whole of the lifespan. There is a strong focus on the earliest years of life. One quarter of all mental disorders emerge before age 12. Our Advisory Group presented evidence that, as young as three, infants can present signs of poor social and emotional development. If not caught in time, those challenges can develop into more serious learning and behavioural disorders in primary school and, potentially, quite serious mental illness in adolescence and beyond. The Government has decided in principle to expand the existing Healthy Kids Check to incorporate elements that assess a child’s emotional and social wellbeing and development. We have also decided to shift the check from age four to age three, reflecting the advice of experts that the younger age presents the best opportunity for early identification. We will be appointing an Expert Group to flesh out the details of those changes and to advise us on the level of existing service to support families with identified needs. Experts like former Australian of the Year, Professor Fiona Stanley, have emphasised that good early identification systems need clear referral pathways to support services with sufficient capacity to meet demand. We recognise and accept the importance of that whole supply chain. To increase supports to families in this age group, we have decided to double the number of Family Mental Health Support Services from 40 to 80. This well-regarded program delivers broad support to families and vulnerable children, covering well-being, family relationships and school attendance, among other things. We’ll also vastly increase targeted funding to Medicare Locals to provide counselling services through psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists to children and their families. The models of treatment and support needed for youth aged 12 – 24 are clearer. This age is a critical point of intervention where a significant proportion of mental illness, including psychosis, begins to emerge. We know that, left untreated, this has enormous potential to interrupt schooling, prevent a smooth entry to the workforce, damage relationships and lead to substance abuse. I’ve met many Australians whose entry to adulthood followed this path and who’ve remained out of the workforce and socially excluded ever since. Patrick McGorry made the case very clearly last year for new, transformative models of care for the young. Those models recognise that young people don’t use mainstream services – particularly not Mum or Dad’s GP. headspace is a proven model designed to create a youth-friendly environment where young people feel comfortable accessing a range of services covering mental, physical and sexual health. The Howard Government funded 30 services – last year, we committed to doubling that number and, this year, we have decided to triple it – to 90 services nationwide. The headspace organisation says this will deliver national coverage and we’ve agreed to headspace’s claim for significant increases in core funding for each of those services. The Budget also includes funding to establish 16 EPPIC centres – modelled on the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre run by Professor McGorry in Western Melbourne. That EPPIC has been operating for almost 20 years. It’s an acute care service, as the name suggests, for young Australians with emerging psychosis. The first ever support for this model at a Commonwealth level was provided by this Government in last year’s budget. This year’s Budget vastly expands that commitment and will deliver broad coverage across the country. Being an acute service, we have said that we expect States to share the cost of the new EPPICs equally. I’m pleased to say I have received strong indications of interest from States to partner with us in this area and we’ll be talking further with them about this element of the Package. Australians with mental illness should be able to get access to basic primary care services – when they need them and no matter where they live. For that reason the Budget also doubles funding for the ATAPS program – Access to Allied Psychology Services. The ATAPS program funds Divisions of General Practice (soon to be Medicare Locals) to provide counselling services to hard to reach groups in their area. The much larger Better Access program, by contrast, simply provides a fee for service rebate for those same services with no targeting. A recent Evaluation of the Better Access program found that its distribution of services across the community was relatively poor. The further you live from a GPO, the fewer services you get. Out in rural Australia – and especially in remote Australia – service levels drop off dramatically. The data also showed a stark difference in access according to socio-economic status. In 2009 – the latest year with full data – the richest quintile or 20% of Australians accessed 2½ times the number of services, attracting three times the Medicare dollars in rebates compared to the poorest quintile of our community. The growth in ATAPS targeted funding will be directed at addressing those imbalances. Most of it will be targeted at lower SES communities with some intended for Indigenous communities. In keeping with our fiscal circumstances, this element of the package is funded through a redirection from the Better Access program by reducing the annual cap on Better Access consults from twelve to ten. We have also redirected funding from Better Access by re-calibrating the GP rebates under the Scheme. This will bring those rebates into line with standard time-based consults while retaining a premium of 27 per cent on top of the standard fee. A glaring omission from Tony Abbott’s mental health policy last year was any focus on adults with severe and chronic mental illness. I’m particularly proud that providing more intensive and better integrated support services to this group is perhaps the central theme of our reform package. The Budget provides dramatic increases to support programs like Personal Helpers and Mentors, or PHaMs. The Prime Minister, Minister Roxon, Minister Ellis and I visited a PHaMs service last week in Adelaide and saw first hand the impact this service has in bringing people out of often lengthy periods of isolation and exclusion, sometimes off the streets; restoring their confidence and ability to make and enjoy everyday social interaction. Clients also develop their broader life skills and $50 million of the $200 million plus going into expanding this program will focus on those clients who are ready to enter the workforce. But, perhaps the most consistent message I’ve received over the past eight months from people living with mental illness is that they want the services they receive to be better integrated. This group and their families have to tell their story over and over again, and get frustrated that the different service providers often don’t know what the others are doing. At best, this is frustrating- at worst, it results in poor outcomes and, occasionally, profound tragedy. The 2006 COAG Agreement on mental health included as its “flagship initiative” a commitment to co-ordinate services for this group. With no money attached to those good intentions, though, that initiative went nowhere. In this Budget, we provide funding for services to take responsibility for ensuring that all of the needs of the most severely unwell are being met. Organisations will be chosen through a tender process conducted in each Medicare Local region. I expect the tender will attract some Medicare Locals and many of the NGOs with a strong history in this area. People will be able to be referred from a range of points to this service and, if eligible, a worker will be assigned to take responsibility for co-ordinating all of their support needs. They will arrange for service providers to sign onto a single care plan with the co-ordinator as the key point of contact. Where an identified need cannot be met by a local service, funds will be available to purchase a service that meets that need. While fairly simple at first blush, this is a revolutionary approach to providing supports to those with the most severe and chronic mental illness. It will provide great comfort to families knowing there is a single point of contact to call on when a gap or a need emerges, and I’m sure will result in greater levels of recovery and social participation. Obviously this group receives also support also from State, and State funded, services. Along with the discussions about the roll-out of EPPIC, we will be seeking the agreement of the States to participate in this model as well as their assistance in developing Assessment Frameworks and the like. Given the significant money the Commonwealth is committing to this proposal, I feel confident of a positive response. The Government will also take an additional $200 million to the COAG meeting that is scheduled to discuss mental health reform later this year. We want that money to help drive improvements in areas for which States have responsibility. I have particularly mentioned the capacity of major emergency departments to deal appropriately with the presentation, admission and discharge of people with severe mental illness. We also want to discuss ways in which States can expand support services around accommodation. This will be a very important meeting of COAG. My sense is that all State Governments, no matter which political colour, take this challenge seriously and I’m confident that, through this Budget, they’ll see that the Commonwealth will be approaching that meeting constructively. This Package is genuinely reformist. We’re not throwing money at old models. We’re scaling up new, proven models and we’re driving innovation in entirely new areas. As you know, though, mental health advocates have argued strongly for an institutional reform that would instil greater accountability and transparency into the system. The Government has met those demands by creating the first National Mental Health Commission. This Commission will be established as an executive agency within the Prime Minister’s portfolio, reporting to her and to the Parliament. It’s important that this Commission be separate from the key line agencies such as Health and Families and Communities and that it focus on tackling outcomes more than inputs – instead of just asking how many beds there are in the system, asking how many people have got off the streets into stable housing, how many are no longer regularly re-presenting to emergency departments, and how many are re-connecting to the workforce, to their family and to society more broadly. The creation of the Commission – and its placement under the Prime Minister – is a clear indication that the Government in no way considers that we’ve ticked the box on mental health reform and can move on to something else. As proud as I am of this Package, we know that getting mental health services to the level that consumers deserve and the community expects will require long term, sustained commitment. I hope that the size of this package but more importantly the shape of this package demonstrate to the Australian community that Labor is in this for the long haul. Thank you for having me today.
Samantha Regione | Media Adviser | Office of the Hon Mark Butler MP | Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Adelaide 08 8242 0827 | Canberra 02 6277 7280 M: 0418 112 688 |
