Mental Health Consumer Body Launched
4 July 2011 at 3:58 pm
The Gillard Government is to provide up to $4 million to establish a National Mental Health Consumer Organisation, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler has announced.
Minister Butler says the new organisations will be hosted by the Consumers Health Forum with a view to transitioning to a completely independent organisation after two years.
Butler says the consumers of mental health services need a dedicated national body to represent their views, and the establishment of the National Mental Health Consumer Organisation will ensure that the voice of mental health consumers is a central part of the Government’s commitment to mental health reform.
He says the new body will also provide the Government with advice and direction in formulating mental health policy and programs and will work with the new National Mental Health Commission.
Chief Executive Officer of the Consumers Health Forum Carol Bennett says she looks forward to mental health consumers having a stronger independent voice on fundamental healthcare and quality of life issues.
The Government says the new body will have an important tole providing advice during the implementation of the Government’s $2.2 billion Delivering on Mental Health Reform package.
