SENATE COMMITTEE HANSARD: Community Affairs References Committee - Commonwealth funding and administration of mental health services, Melbourne
Date published :
19
August
2011
Terms of reference for the inquiry:
To inquire into and report on:
The Government's funding and administration of mental health
services in Australia, with particular reference to:
(a) the Government's 2011-12 Budget changes relating to mental
health;
(b) changes to the Better Access Initiative, including:
(i) the rationalisation of general practitioner (GP) mental health
services,
(ii) the rationalisation of allied health treatment sessions,
(iii) the impact of changes to the Medicare rebates and the
two-tiered rebate structure for clinical assessment and preparation
of a care plan by GPs, and
(iv) the impact of changes to the number of allied mental health
treatment services for patients with mild or moderate mental
illness under the Medicare Benefits Schedule;
(c) the impact and adequacy of services provided to people with
mental illness through the Access to Allied Psychological Services
program;
(d) services available for people with severe mental illness and
the coordination of those services;
(e) mental health workforce issues, including:
(i) the two-tiered Medicare rebate system for psychologists,
(ii) workforce qualifications and training of psychologists,
and
(iii) workforce shortages;
(f) the adequacy of mental health funding and services for
disadvantaged groups, including:
(i) culturally and linguistically diverse communities,
(ii) Indigenous communities, and
(iii) people with disabilities;
(g) the delivery of a national mental health commission; and
(h) the impact of online services for people with a mental illness,
with particular regard to those living in rural and remote
locations and other hard to reach groups; and
(j) any other related matter.
Read Full Committee Hansard
Return to the News