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.
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. Details of next CEO Forum to be released soon.
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
Consultation on an Australian Compact
Promoting social inclusion requires some innovative thinking around developing new ways of governing. As a nation we need to rethink how policy and programs across portfolios and levels of government can collaborate to combat economic and social disadvantage, and minimise barriers to access and engagement in the community.
The Australian Government is exploring ways to develop a new and stronger relationship with the NGO, based on partnership and respect. One way to do this is through an Australian Compact—an agreement between the Australian Government and the not-for-profit sector that outlines how the two will work together to improve and strengthen their relationship, now and into the future. A compact could also provide a platform for discussion and agreement between the Australian Government and the sector about how to achieve objectives that will benefit the community. Exactly what a National Compact will look like will depend on what Australia wants it to achieve and what will best suit the nation’s unique government and NGO landscape. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is consulting widely to seek input from community organisations and users of services about the concept of an Australian Compact. In July, as part of the process MHCC participated in one of a number of nation-wide forums held by ACOSS to discuss the idea of a National Compact between the Commonwealth Government and the NGO sector.
MHCC are making a submission to the government in response to a number of questions. In order to assist us in presenting the views of the mental health NGO sector, MHCC welcome comments on the following issues:
- the value of developing a compact
- the shared values of the sector and government
- how a compact could improve the lives of Australians
- what a partnership between the government and the sector could look like
- who should be party to an Australian Compact, including how the diversity of the not-for-profit sector could be reflected in the compact
- the priority areas of government sector relations that a compact might focus on
- what forms of community engagement would add most value to a sector reform and capacity building agenda
- overseas and state experiences of similar agreements that could help to develop an Australian compact
Please email your comments to Corinne Henderson, Senior Policy Officer at corinne@mhcc.org.au or fax: 02 9810 8145
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.
Community Health Review Consultation for NGOs
When: Monday 1 September 2008, 9.30am to midday
Where: Downstairs Meeting Room, NCOSS, 66 Albion Street, Surry Hills
(More information will be circulated to attendees in advance of the meeting)
NSW Health has engaged consultants from the Centre for Health Service Development at the University of Wollongong to undertake a review of NSW Health operated community health services. In order to facilitate input into the review from NGOs, NCOSS will be holding a consultation on the 1st September, 9.30am to midday.
NCOSS will then use this information to produce a written submission to the review.
More information on the review is available from the NCOSS website http://www.ncoss.org.au/content/view/985/111/. The consultants have also established a website for the review http://www.nswchr.net/
RSVP for attendance is necessary to Kristie@ncoss.org.au
If you would like more information or would like to contribute but can’t attend the consultation, please feel free to call:
Kristie Brown
Senior Policy Officer, Health
Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS)
66 Albion Street
Surry Hills, NSW, 2010
P: (02) 9211 2599 ext. 130
F: (02) 9281 1968
Kristie@ncoss.org.au
www.ncoss.org.au
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women's Health & Wellbeing Community Consultation
When: Monday, September 15, 2008
Duration: 1 day
Where: Paddington Town Hall, Oxford St, Paddington Sydney
Contact: On-line Registration www.ywcansw.com.au/registration_form.php
This one day community consultation for women will discuss the health and wellbeing issues affecting indigenous women in NSW. Interactive workshops will provide an opportunity for everyone to contribute to the discussion and to share successful initiatives working well in their community. It will also be a great opportunity to build and strengthen our networks as women.
Time: 9.00am for 9.30am to 4.30pm
A light lunch will be provided
Funding has enabled a national consultation process to take place. The outcomes of these consultations will inform a report commissioned by the Federal Government. This will also be submitted to relevant State Government departments abd agencies and will be published on the YWCA website.
Prisoner and Young Offender Health Consultation
When: Wednesday 24 September 2008, 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Where: Downstairs Meeting Room, NCOSS
66 Albion Street Surry Hills
Please RSVP to Kristie@ncoss.org.au
Prisoners and young offenders experience poorer levels of general health, including higher levels of mental illness, substance abuse, blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections. Many prisoners are young offenders are from low socioeconomic and disadvantaged groups, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people with an intellectual disability overrepresented within the prison system, while the number of women in prisons in increasing at a faster rate than that for men.
This consultation will inform the development of new priorities for the Justice Health Consumer and Community Group (CCG).
Justice Health is responsible for the provision of healthcare to people within publicly run correctional and juvenile justice centres in NSW. Justice Health, as part of the NSW Department of Health, is independent from the Department of Corrective Services.
In 2002 Justice Health established the Consumer and Community Group (CCG) to provide a forum for issues related to the health needs of adult and juvenile detainees to be raised and a mechanism through which to advocate for the delivery of health services equivalent to those available to the general community.
Following on from the forum, the community members of the CCG will report the priority issues from the discussion to Justice Health for further response and action.
For more information contact
Kristie Brown
Senior Policy Officer, Health
Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS)
P: (02) 9211 2599 ext. 130
Kristie@ncoss.org.au
www.ncoss.org.au