❓ Hon Alison Xamon asks the Minister for Mental Health about the establishment of a working group addressing the unmet needs of individuals with co-existing intellectual disability and mental illness. The Minister acknowledges the importance and outlines the progress in establishing the group, its aims, and initial steps.
AnsweredQoN 321Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH–INTELLECTUAL
DISABILITY WORKING GROUP
321. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the proposal for the
Mental Health Commission to establish a working group on the unmet needs of
people with co-existing intellectual disability and mental illness.
(1) When does the minister envisage the group will be
established?
(2) Who will be in the group?
(3) How often will the group meet?
(4) Have any terms of reference been established for the
group?
(5) If yes, what are the terms of reference?
(6) What are the expected outcomes from the working group?
DISABILITY WORKING GROUP
321. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the proposal for the
Mental Health Commission to establish a working group on the unmet needs of
people with co-existing intellectual disability and mental illness.
(1) When does the minister envisage the group will be
established?
(2) Who will be in the group?
(3) How often will the group meet?
(4) Have any terms of reference been established for the
group?
(5) If yes, what are the terms of reference?
(6) What are the expected outcomes from the working group?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
I think it is a very important area of development that is
taking place at the moment. If ever there was an opportunity or a chance to
make this really progress, it is when we have a combination of factors such as
a mental health commissioner who has previously worked as a senior executive in
a disability services commission and a minister with a portfolio that covers
both disability services and mental health. There has been a very strong
advocate, a man by the name of Mr Alan Robinson, who has made many
representations on this issue over the years. I think we owe this gentleman a
great deal of thanks for his persistence in pursuing this matter over many
years. I will now answer the particular questions that the member put forward.
(1) The Mental
Health Commission is currently in the process of establishing the working
group.
(2) Membership of
the working group has not yet been finalised but will involve a range of
people, including experts in the area as well as carers.
(3) Meeting
frequency will be determined as part of the terms of reference. Initially, this
is likely to be monthly.
(4) Terms of
reference are being developed and will be discussed at the first meeting, which
is anticipated to be in July.
(5) See answer (4).
(6) The aim of
the working group will be to identify key issues in relation to better
servicing the needs of people with co-occurring issues of intellectual
disability and mental illness. This is likely to include identification of best
practice, development of effective models of care and support, and developing
the workforce to be able to deliver appropriate care. The first steps will be
gathering information and meeting the stakeholders and agencies to consider
work already done on this matter and to develop a work plan.
of the question.
I think it is a very important area of development that is
taking place at the moment. If ever there was an opportunity or a chance to
make this really progress, it is when we have a combination of factors such as
a mental health commissioner who has previously worked as a senior executive in
a disability services commission and a minister with a portfolio that covers
both disability services and mental health. There has been a very strong
advocate, a man by the name of Mr Alan Robinson, who has made many
representations on this issue over the years. I think we owe this gentleman a
great deal of thanks for his persistence in pursuing this matter over many
years. I will now answer the particular questions that the member put forward.
(1) The Mental
Health Commission is currently in the process of establishing the working
group.
(2) Membership of
the working group has not yet been finalised but will involve a range of
people, including experts in the area as well as carers.
(3) Meeting
frequency will be determined as part of the terms of reference. Initially, this
is likely to be monthly.
(4) Terms of
reference are being developed and will be discussed at the first meeting, which
is anticipated to be in July.
(5) See answer (4).
(6) The aim of
the working group will be to identify key issues in relation to better
servicing the needs of people with co-occurring issues of intellectual
disability and mental illness. This is likely to include identification of best
practice, development of effective models of care and support, and developing
the workforce to be able to deliver appropriate care. The first steps will be
gathering information and meeting the stakeholders and agencies to consider
work already done on this matter and to develop a work plan.
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