Friday, 7 April 2006
HREOC welcomes mental health funding announcement
Mental health funding of $1.8 billion over 5 years is a welcome start to addressing the mental health crisis in the Australian community, Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes said today.
Mr Innes said that the funding appeared to be aimed at moving away from the containment and care model of previous decades and would assist people with a mental illness to live with dignity in the community.
He called on the Federal Government to take the lead role in coordinating the long-term efforts to address the deficits in mental health care and for States and Territories to match the Commonwealth commitment.
“This funding acknowledges deficits in key areas of mental health services,” said Mr Innes. “It addresses the need for the provision of support services to enable people with mental illness to live in the community, provides support for families and will help to expand the mental health workforce. However, without State and Territories matching the Commonwealth funding, the $1.8 billion will be nowhere near enough.”
Mr Innes said that he looked forward to further detail from the Commonwealth as well as substantial commitments from the States and Territories. He also said he looked forward to more detail on programs for Indigenous mental health, which was highlighted in both the Senate Select Committee on Mental Health's First Report A national approach to mental health - from crisis to community and the report Not for service: Experiences of injustice and despair in mental health care in Australia.
Mr Innes pointed out that Not for service recommended an increase in funding on mental health care services by 1% per annum for each of the next five years so that by 2010 expenditure will be equivalent to 12% of total health care funding.
Media enquiries: Janine MacDonald 02 9284 9677 or 0407 660 235
Last updated 07 April 2006.
