Budget Swerves Funding Cliff but Leaves Services Hanging
MEDIA RELEASE – Queensland’s peak body for community mental health organisations welcomes the continuation of funding for key mental health services in the Federal Budget.
The $260.2 million in funding will temporarily save services from falling off a June 30 funding cliff, however the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health is concerned that the funding announcement has come too late for some services to offer continued employment to valuable, sought-after staff.
“Services are still not aware of the exact funding they will receive, including a very welcome higher indexation rate, making it extremely difficult for services to plan ahead,” QAMH CEO Jennifer Black said.
QAMH also believes the Federal Government needs to prioritise preventative and early-intervention-in episode services to avoid long-term mental illness and more severe mental distress.
While we acknowledge that the potential for more bulk-billed appointments with GPs may make it easier for patients to access and afford early mental health support, QAMH believes specific community mental health services are also needed.
QAMH is also keen to ensure that broad, structural reform of the mental health system, as outlined in the National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and recommended by the 2020 Productivity Commission report into Mental Health, is pursued and delivered by this government.
We look forward to participating with vigour in consultation and reviews, including the NDIS Big Review, which we hope will result in better services for people with a psychosocial disability.
The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health represents over 100 members and stakeholders in the Queensland Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector.
Please consider how you report on mental health issues. Consult mindframe guidelines: https://mindframe.org.au/mental-health/communicating-about-mental-ill-health/mindframe-guidelines
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Media contact:
Emma Griffiths
QAMH Director – Advocacy and Communications
Queensland Alliance for Mental Health
M: 0439 971 080
E: egriffiths@qamh.org.au