Mental health e-Bulletin
27 May 2010
Dear [FirstName],
The e-bulletin sent last week outlined the successes we have achieved in our meeting with the Minister’s Chief of Staff and senior officials at the Department. Since then I have met with the Minister for Health and Ageing herself. This lasted half an hour, a very clear sign that she takes our concerns seriously. To demonstrate her commitment to working with us she will be writing formally to me with respect to that discussion. That letter will be one she is happy for us to send to members and I will forward it when it arrives. She expressed her apologies again, and confirmed that she needs more information about the work of social workers in the Better Access program.
The Minister asked what she could do to assist our members to believe that they are serious about working collaboratively with us. I recommended consulting more fully with a range of our specialist mental health members to better understand the clinical expertise and the other specialist perspectives we provide. She agreed to have her Department develop a consultation strategy which should be available in brief by the end of the week.
Support in Parliament
On Tuesday night I attended a speech in the House of Representatives by (Labor) Member for Bass, Tasmania, Jodie Campbell who spoke passionately on the need for social workers to be able to continue to provide services under the Better Access program. She acknowledged my presence as an observer in parliament (as CEO, Australian Association of Social Workers) and also that of a GP from Tasmania (Dr Maxine Manifold) in her speech which is recorded in Hansard. I encourage you to read the transcript of her speech. Dr Maxine Manifold over five days achieved 1,860 signatories on a petition in Launceston, supporting us. You can find Ms Campbell's speech in Hansard starting on page 63.
Earlier yesterday she and (Liberal) MP for Tangney, WA, Dr Dennis Jensen both spoke in support of social workers and OT’s remaining in the better access program, in committee at Parliament House. These earlier speeches are in the same Hansard document starting on page 112.
Media Coverage
We have received considerable media coverage including articles in The Age (both before the announcement and after) and The Australian and radio interviews in Adelaide, Melbourne, Gippsland, Bendigo, Riverland. We are still being asked for stories. Here are some you might not have heard.
I know branches and individuals will know of more media activity so please do let us know / share the stories.
Support in Parliament
I want to be as clear as possible about where we stand. As I’ve said on the website, while the MBS includes items for focussed psychological strategies, the AASW will continue to fight for specialist social workers to deliver clinical services to people with mental health issues.
While we do have concerns about the Better Access program not achieving its desired outcomes (which are on the record as part of our submissions to Government) we are convinced that the flexibility it provides to our members and organisations like Headspace, to deliver good outcomes for those most in need is a strength and the positive aspects of the program should be kept. Whatever policy direction the Government heads in we will insist on equal treatment with other professions. The Government is pretty clear they will treat us properly from now on and we continue to reinforce our position to them. I have received the invitation onto the steering committee for the Better Access program evaluation so this is a good start.
We are not supporting ATAPS (Access to Allied Psychological Services) care packages as defined in existing policy. We know that there are significant problems with them both in mental health and in aged care. ATAPS itself also needs reform and that’s why we need to provide advice.
What can you do to help?
It’s been great to see so many members contacting me and the rest of the office for the first time, having their say on the members’ forum or on facebook. This energy and enthusiasm is wonderful, but I need to let you know that it is hard for staff to respond to all your requests and questions within a short timeframe. Please bear with us we are trying to respond as globally as we can as a best use of our small resources.
The next part of our consultation strategy with members is to have meetings at branch level where you are encouraged to share your views. Look out for advice from your branch about times/places.
There are a number of ways for members to get involved in the AASW, alongside other members, and I encourage you all to play your role. Most branches have a mental health or a private practice group or both, and there are a range of other practice groups as well as the branch management committees. The national mental health committee is one of many national committees each with a focus on a different part of social work. And of course members are also elected to the National Board.
In particular, if you have views about mental health policy, please do let me know either directly or through your branch organised meetings. In particular, I’m seeking your input now on:
- What is good and bad about ATAPS (e.g. we have heardyour concerns that it is not clinical, not flexible, packages in aged care are not working…)
- What is good and bad about with Better Access (eg flexible but doesn’t reach areas without professionals, subsidies wealthy to see $250 / hr clinicians ...)
- What other funding arrangements might deliver timely, client centred coordinated care that engages the issue of the person in their environment/family/community?
- How helpful/unhelpful have members found the e-bulletins, members forum on web page and individual phone and/email responses from staff?
- How helpful/unhelpful have members found the facebook pages created by members?
If you are an AMHSW:
- What does a good MH program look like? (our policy line from the media release is that the “development of the program takes place through consultation with clients and professionals to ensure they are client-centred, flexible, coordinated, and responsive to individual and community needs” - What would you add to this list?)
- How closely can you work with GPs and other allied health professions – we hear a great deal of variation, what are your experiences?
- What population groups do you believe are best serviced by Better Access and what would be the risk of them receiving services under ATAPS?
- What MH conditions or disorders do you believe are best serviced by Better Access and what would be the risk of them receiving services under ATAPS?
- How many hours of unpaid ‘wrap around’ or family / network support work do you do for each Medicare billed 50 min session?
- Examples of innovative practice – not just ’50 mins on the couch’?
I also value any other feedback that you may have.
Next steps
In the coming days and weeks I and the staff, supported by the National Mental Health Committee, the Board and your feedback through your branch and directly, will be developing a full strategy for consulting and acting with partners and other concerned groups.
We will also be developing questions for the Senate Budget Estimates hearings, scheduled of rearly next week, and asking Senators to put those questions to the Department.
Older e-bulletins on this issue
Some of you have reported not receiving these e-bulletins, and we've been investigating what may be causing problems. I therefore want to provide here the links to messages delivered since the budget, so that you you have access to them as much as possible.
12 May 2010
13 May 2010
15 May 2010
17 May 2010
19 May 2010
Keep up all your excellent work.
Kind regards
Kandie
Kandie Allen-Kelly
BSocWk MPhil MAASW (Acc)
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Association of Social Workers
P.O. Box 4956
Kingston ACT 2604
Tel: +61 2 6270 7203
Membership: 1800 630 124
ceo@aasw.asn.au
www.aasw.asn.au
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