Submissions

QAMH congratulated the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on the draft National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations.

QAMH was involved in the preliminary consultation which led to the development of these draft Standards. Some key areas for improvement were noted, including the failure of the Standards to truly reflect the trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approach that is at the core of the work performed by the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector.

QAMH also suggested that the Standards could be further strengthened by:

• Utilising less paternalistic language with a greater focus on person-led, individual journeys
• Removing the need to single out peer workers as separate members of the workforce
• Expanding the human rights section
• More deeply reflecting the sector’s commitment to celebrating diverse population groups