Welcoming the NSW Roadmap that reflects the sector’s priorities for stability and certainty
The release of the NSW Government’s Secure Jobs and Funding Certainty Roadmap, a 2023 election commitment, is a step forward towards stability and sustainability for the community-managed mental health sector.
In 2023, the NSW Government made an election commitment to deliver more funding certainty and job security for people working in the community services sector. This commitment aligns with the ongoing efforts of sector leaders to build a more sustainable future for community services.
As the peak body for community-managed mental health services in NSW, Mental Health Coordinating Council has focused on strengthening and sustaining the community mental health sector as a priority. Our Chief Executive Officer, Dr Evelyne Tadros, has been part of the Leadership Group for Secure Jobs and Funding Certainty, strongly advocating for greater funding certainty and workforce stability for our sector. It is welcoming to see the NSW Government’s recent release of the Secure Jobs and Funding Certainty Roadmap, which reflects the four priority areas we have consistently championed:
Long-term funding arrangements (base position that five-year terms are preferred)
A community services funding framework (including a pricing approach)
A community services jobs compact
A community services prequalification scheme
Our collaboration and Working Group with Primary Health Networks in NSW/ACT and community-managed mental health organisations continue to advocate for longer contracts and indexation that adequately reflects wages and CPI, and drive consistency in a number of areas. This includes reporting frequency, KPIs, outcome measures, and data collection. Dr Evelyne Tadros is pleased to have been able to channel the learnings and expectations from the PHN/CMO Working Group into contributions for the development of the NSW whole-of-government approach to Secure Jobs Funding Certainty Roadmap.
See the media release from the Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusions, Kate Washington, here.
Secure Jobs and Funding Certainty Roadmap
The NSW Government has launched a Roadmap that sets out the shared vision of the government and the community services sector to increase job security and funding certainty across the sector.
