News from Mental Health Coordinating Council

MHCC News Aug 05:

NSW State Budget May 24 2005

Jenna Bateman

There is an additional $71 million on last years mental health spending in the budget bringing the total NSW mental health budget to $854 million. $22 million of the additional $71 million is new money. The rest is funds rolling out from the enhancement of $241 million over four years announced in 2004. The roll out is slower than anticipated with only $49 million appearing over 2005 -06.

The new $22 million has been dedicated to the expansion of Psychiatric Emergency Care (PEC) units and a range of community based mental health projects. Currently there are PEC units at Liverpool and Nepean. These are to be retained and an additional seven units opened over 2005-06 including at St George, St Vincent's and Hornsby hospitals.

The community based mental health projects are targeted to community rehabilitation including: services for older people, the establishment of specific services for adolescents in contact with the justice system and dual diagnosis and early intervention programs for 16 ­- 25 year olds. It is unclear how much, if any of these funds will flow to NGOs. We do know there is $8 million being spent on the 3rd stage of the Housing and Supported Accommodation Initiative (HASI) in 2005-­06. HASI 3 will target people with high support needs.

The amount budgeted for under 'voluntary organisations' which includes the NGO program along with medical research and universities has been budgeted in 2005-06 at less than revised spending over 2004-05. Mental Health overall in NSW is attracting around 7-8 % of the total health care budget and NGO community based care around 2-3% of the total mental health budget.  NSW should be spending more like 15% on mental health services and of this 15% should be funding community based care if NSW is to achieve a balanced and holistic mental health system.