Health Minister Meeting a step forward for mental health reforms

On Friday 16 August, Health and Mental Health Ministers from all states, territories and the Australian Government convened in Sydney for a pivotal meeting to discuss the key issues affecting Australia’s mental health system and explore options for reform.

Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) welcomes the commitments from the Health Ministers Meeting as below:

Release of the Analysis of unmet need for psychosocial supports outside the NDIS. This report estimates almost half a million people (aged 12-64 years) with severe and moderate mental health challenges across Australia, have an unmet need for psychosocial supports. Ministers committed to developing a robust plan for future psychosocial support arrangements which should inevitably include services offered within the community managed mental health sector.
Governments to work together to improve access to mental health services across Australia through a re-affirmed commitment to delivering on the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
To undertake a national data and information monitoring project to inform how to grow and retain the mental health and suicide prevention workforce.
To develop a national framework to improve interjurisdictional information sharing and agreed in-principle to the need for locally appropriate legislative or administrative changes to enable the Mutual Recognition of Mental Health Orders.
A clear focus on the mental health of children and young people and government officials to analyse current programs effectiveness and identify opportunities for better integration across mental health service and education.
Ministers committed to meeting twice a year with the next meeting to focus on children and young people’s mental health and consider reform to address unmet mental health needs.

It is pleasing to note that these outcomes align with the priorities that MHCC has been advocating for, alongside Mental Health Australia, Community Mental Health Australia and the NSW Mental Health Alliance.

We will continue to work closely with our members to ensure these government commitments translate into meaningful action and sustained investment in the mental health sector.

See the Ministers’ Meeting Communique See our media release

Community Mental Health Australia’s media release

NSW Mental Health Alliance Joint Statement

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Health Minister Meeting a step forward for mental health reforms

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