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Consultations

MHCC is committed to working closely with members, consumers and carers, and community interests to guide our work. MHCC is also asked to participate in consultations conducted by government and other organisations on mental health related issues. Our consultation work may be part of our current research or projects. Results of previous consultations have informed our submissions or publications or continue to inform our ongoing work.

MHCC Current Consultations

MHCC has both ongoing consultations and specific consultations where we invite input.

Developing a Recovery-Oriented Service Provider Resource for Community Mental Health Organisations

MHCC and NSW Consumer Advisory Group (NSW CAG) are creating a resource to guide mental health workers in deliveriing recovery oriented services. A series of consultations with consumers and service providers is being held to hear views and seek input. Consultations already held include:

  • Consumer Consultation at Wagga Wagga  Wednesday 16 September 2009
  • Consumer Consultation at Parramatta Thursday 17 September 2009
  • Consumer Consultation at Kempsey Wednesday 8th October, 2009
  • Consumer Consultation at Balgowlah Tuesday 13th October, 2009
  • Service Provider Consultation at Parramatta Wednesday 14 October 2009
  • Service Provider Consultation at Wagga Wagga Thursday 15 October 2009

Link to MHCC project

For more information contact Lauren Whibley, Policy Officer NSW CAG 02-9332 0200 or lwhibley@nswcag.org.au or www.nswcag.org.au

Mental Health Rights Manual (MHRM) Project

The Project
Everyone with a mental health issue should be able to enjoy the same civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that the rest of the community take for granted, as recognised in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Supported by funding from the Law and Justice Foundation NSW, MHCC in collaboration with PIAC are updating and enhancing the MHCC Mental Health Rights Manual (MHRM) which is an online guide for people with a disability as a consequence of mental illness, regarding their legal and human rights in NSW.

Written in plain language, the new ‘Online Manual’ will enable people to become acquainted with their basic rights, the legal and service system, find out how to navigate the mental health system and access support and guidance. The MHRM will incorporate the latest legislative reform and new government directives and brings together vital information crucial to anyone negotiating the mental health system. There is no other resource developed specifically for people with a mental illness; their carers and families; or the non-legal workforce in NSW.

Corinne Henderson, MHCC Senior Policy Officer is coordinating the project in collaboration with PIAC, who in their role as consultants to the project is undertaking the necessary revision.

Peter Dodd, Solicitor Health Policy & Advocacy (PIAC) is coordinating the revision with the assistance of Kaki Ng, Researcher.

MHCC has already held a focus group for consumers and a focus group for carers will be held at a later date.

 

CEO Forums – MHCC Members

MHCC convenes regular consultation forums with CEOs (or equivalent) of member organisations to discuss issues relevant to the sector and obtain member input into MHCC activities.

Workforce Development Reference Group

Workforce Development Representatives from the sector meet regularly to inform our work in developing the mental health sector workforce. More

MHCC Member Survey

Annual survey of all MHCC members

Other Consultations

MHCC also participates in various consultations initiated by other organisations. Details of current consultations open to MHCC and/or MHCC members are provided below. If you wish to list your consultation invitation here, please contact us. 

Australian Human Rights Commission's activities around the National Human Rights Consultation - Update

1. Toolkits
To help organisations and individuals get involved in the National Consultation process, the Australian Human Rights Commission has produced a toolkit: Let's talk about rights. The toolkit is available at www.humanrights.gov.au/letstalkaboutrights/index.html

They have also produced a toolkit for children and young people, available at www.humanrights.gov.au/letstalkaboutrights/youth.html 

Printed copies of the toolkits can be ordered by emailing: publications@humanrights.gov.au

2. Facebook
The Commission yesterday launched a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Sydney-Australia/Australian-Human-Rights-Commission/58057437310?ref=nf

3. Workshops
The Commission is hosting a series of workshops around the country. Details can be found at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/letstalkaboutrights/workshops.html

Final National Human Rights Consultation Update – 1 October 2009

The National Human Rights Consultation has drawn to a close. Since the Consultation was launched on 10 December 2008 the Committee has hosted 66 community roundtables in 52 locations throughout regional and remote Australia, as well as in capital cities. In addition to this, in excess of 35,000 written and online submissions were received by the Committee, and many people attended the three days of public hearings held in Canberra in July.

The National Human Rights Consultation Report was handed to Government yesterday. The Government will release the Consultation Committee's report and provide a formal response in the coming months.

Video footage of the Public Hearings is now available and can be streamed from the Consultation website under the 'Public Hearings' tab or http://www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au/www/nhrcc/nhrcc.nsf/Page/Public_Hearings. You can view Day 1 sessions with Day 2 and 3 becoming available in the next week. Transcripts will also become available shortly. The program of the Public Hearings is on the website . You can watch the footage on a session by session basis.

Fr Frank Brennan will be speaking about the National Human Rights Consultation and the Report at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday, 14 October 2009. This event will be broadcast live on ABC Television. For more information please visit the NPC website: http://www.npc.org.au

MHCC's submission to the committee is available on http://www.mhcc.org.au/documents/Submissions/MHCC-Sub-National-Human-Rights-Consultation-150609.pdf

National Scoping Project Consumer Speak: Seeking a national voice

The Australian Governement is seeking to establish a new peak national mental health consumer organisation. An invitation to consumers and mental health organisations to participate in consultations has been issued. NSW Forums are scheduled as follows: All forums are free and are catered. No need to book, just turn up.

Forums for all interested MH Consumers, Consumer Agencies and Groups

Phase 1 of the consultation process is now complete and a Discussion Paper has been prepared for Phase 2 which asks the following questions:

1. What would be the roles of the new peak?
2. What would be its key areas of work?
3. What would it be a peak of?
4. Where does it fit in? eg key relationships
5. What are some organisational options?
6. What sort of a legal entity would work best?
7. How could it ensure good governance?
8. How would it get the work done?
9. How would the new peak make sure it does the best it can?
10. What are the options for the establishment phase?
11. What resourcing would be required?

Discussion Paper (this will form the basis of the Phase 2 consultation process)

It is appreciated that not everyone can attend our forums whether due to time or location and travel constraints. If you can’t attend one of the forums, please go to www.crazelateralsolutions.com where there is plenty of information about this project and also an on-line survey where you can have your say. There will be a new survey on-line shortly for Phase 2 of the project.

Phase 2 - Consultation on a Discussion Paper

Thank you to everyone who attended the Phase 1 consultations and sincerest apologies to anyone inconvenienced when a meeting had to be rescheduled due to the dust storm. Results from the Phase 1 consultations are available at www.crazelateralsolutions.com. These have been used, along with other research, to help shape a Discussion Paper which asks 11 questions about reformation of a national mental health consumer peak body. The Discussion Paper is the focus of Phase 2 consultations. Please read the Discussion Paper before attending. The Phase 2 NSW consultation sessions will be held:

Monday 23 November, 9:30 to 11:30AM - Ryde
Ryde Community Mental Health Centre
39-41 Fourth Ave, Eastwood

Monday 23 November, 1:00 to 3:00 PM - Kogarah
Kogarah Conference Room, St George Mental Health Unit, South St

Tuesday 24 November, 10:30 AM to 12:30PM - Newcastle
ARAFMI, 22 Stewart Ave, Hamilton East

Art & Poetry Competition
The Scoping Project’s art and poetry competition is going well – check them out on our website

A big thanks to everyone who has helped by contributing their ideas and thoughts.
For more information visit the Scoping Project's website www.crazelateralsolutions.com
or contact Leanne Craze  leanne.craze@bigpond.com  02-6238 1549 or 0408 869 051
PO Box 314 Bungendore NSW 2621

Consultation Forum for Development of a National Mental Health Workforce Strategy and Plan

The Mental Health Workforce Advisory Committee (MHWAC) has recently commissioned the development of a National Mental Health Workforce Strategy and Plan. After a competitive tender process, the contract has been awarded to Siggins Miller. A key part of the development of the strategy will be consultations with stakeholders in each State and Territory. The project will develop a national mental health workforce strategy and plan, linked to other relevant key policy documents. The focus is health & community mental health service professionals whose primary role involves treatment, care or support to people with a mental illness, in a mental health service or other health service environment. The scope includes mental health nurses, general registered nurses, medical practitioners, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, mental health workers, Aboriginal mental health workers, Aboriginal health workers, consumer workers and carer workers working in hospitals, healthcare and community mental health agencies across metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia.

It includes health & community mental health service professionals working across the range of service types—for example, mental health services for adults, children and adolescents, and aged persons. It also includes staff working in non-government community mental health services; nurses working in the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program, and psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers providing services under the MBS Better Access to Mental Health Care program. The forensic mental health workforce is within the scope of the project. General practitioners and people working in the housing and employment sectors are outside the scope of the project.

The objectives of the project are these:

· Review Australian and international literature on mental health workforce that identifies key strengths and challenges, and notes current workforce innovations and reforms.

· Scope possible changes in treatment and technology that could affect the capacity and capability of the workforce.

· Identify major workforce capacity building requirements to ensure a sustainable, high quality response to the treatment and prevention of mental illness.

· Develop a nationally agreed strategy and related set of priority actions for the short, medium and longer term.

· Support a cross-jurisdictional approach to workforce development for those providing health & community mental health services to people with a mental illness.

The NSW consultation was held on Tuesday 1 December at the Quay Grand Hotel, 61 Macquarie St, Sydney.

Contact Ms Alex Lewis at alexandra.lewis@sigginsmiller.com.au 

Closing date for written submissions was December 18 2009.