Mental Health Rights Manual
An online guide to help explain your legal and human rights in the mental health and human services systems in New South Wales.
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MHCC has responded to a request from the Australian Government for feedback on the recommendations of the Productivity Commission Inquiry Report on Mental Health. Our response focuses on the recommendation which proposes improving the availability of psychosocial supports.
February 2021
September 2020
MHCC provided a submission to the Inquiry that examines systemic and ongoing issues about the operations and framework of the Quality and Safeguards Commission, which includes the NDIS Practice Standards and the NDIS Code of Conduct. In making this submission MHCC consulted with Members and the sector. Comments reflect the feedback and learnings shared since the establishment of the NDIS for people living with psychosocial disability in NSW.
July 2020
MHCC strongly advocates that housing supports for people living with mental health conditions and homeless people at risk of and experiencing a multitude of psychosocial difficulties be clearly identified in the strategy; and that accommodation support must be underpinned by an appropriate level of housing stock. MHCC also highlights the importance of quantifying the investment in evidence-based models to meet the needs of vulnerable people of all ages over the next twenty years.
July 2020
MHCC collaborated with five other peaks led by the Council for Intellectual Disability, to reflect on the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act and the Guardianship Division. The Guardianship Division protects the rights of people with disability with processes that maximise inclusion. The submission outlines three key provisions that need protecting.
February 2020
MHCC’s submission emphasises the role psychosocial support services play in providing much more than services complementing clinical services. These services have a role vital to supporting recovery for people living with enduring mental health conditions by working with people over the long term to address more than just the symptoms of illness. They are often the key to people living well in the community. MHCC recommends expansion of CMO mental health support services and additional funding.
January 2020
MHCC provides its perspectives on the purpose, functions and future needs for disability advocacy across the state. This included comments on the principles that should apply and ways in which to address the emerging needs of people living with disabilities in a dynamic service systems environment.
October 2019
MHCC has provided comment to the Defences and Partial Defences: Consultation Paper, which is part of the ongoing review of the NSW Mental Health Forensic Provisions Act. The matters discussed included issues surrounding the way ‘special verdicts’ are dealt with as well as finalising terminology that better expresses the objects of the Act.
July 2019
The Regulation includes a range of provisions that support the NSW Mental Health Act. MHCC were asked to review the draft amendments to the Regulations to be appealed in September 2019. Whilst substantially the same MHCC commented on a few changes that we believed could be further clarified.
June 2019
MHCC urged the Department of Justice to maintain a number of features to NSW Guardianship hearings which other jurisdictions in Australia have dropped. We believe these elements are critical to better enabling people with complex conditions, their families and support persons to participate in hearings; supported by tribunal members who have the skills to make appropriate guardianship and administrative orders.
June 2019
After consulting members, our submission focused on community-managed mental health sector delivery of psychosocial support services in NSW. It also commented on broader issues concerning the interface between sectors and the NDIS, NDIS workforce and service gaps. The submission argues the mental health system needs more resources and a shift in emphasis from hospital treatment towards prevention, early intervention and community based support. It makes 11 recommendations, including that funding and policy ensures a skilled and community based mental health workforce.
April 2019
MHCC provided comment to NSW Department of Justice on defining Mental Health Impairment and Cognitive Impairment, agreeing with the position that amendments to the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 should not specifically refer to personality disorders as either in or out, to avoid excluding people from genuinely needed opportunities to be diverted or to receive a NGMI finding.
March 2019
