Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Tasmanian Government is investing more into the essential services Tasmanians need including crucial mental health support.
Last year's State Budget invested $4 million to commence Phase One of implementing the Government's response to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Review recommendations.
Late last year, we also released the strengthened mental health plan, Rethink 2020 which represents a shared approach to mental health service planning and delivery. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, there is more to do.
That's why in line with PESRAC's recommendations, we will invest an additional $41.2 million over 4 years to fully fund Phases One and Two of the Government's response to the CAMHS Review.
We acknowledge that there are longstanding issues and gaps within CAMHS, and that a fundamental shift in the delivery of services is required to ensure that young Tasmanians can receive the best possible mental health care.
Additional funding announced today includes the implementation of;
- A second service to be established for children in Out of Home Care;
- A second service to be established of the Youth Early Intervention Service;
- Capacity of Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service to be further increased and enhanced;
- Establishment of a state-wide Youth Forensic Mental Health Service;
- Establishment of eating disorders day treatment programs; and,
- Securing appropriate contemporary facilities for community outpatient services.
Once the new community-based services are up and running, Phase Three will culminate in the establishment of a dedicated adolescent inpatient unit as part of the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The new position of CAMHS Statewide Clinical Director was recently advertised, and I look forward to being able to announce a successful candidate to lead the CAMHS reforms in the coming weeks.
The Tasmanian Government takes child and adolescent mental health extremely seriously, and we are taking a best-practice approach to building a contemporary, integrated model of mental health care so our children and young people can get more holistic support at the right place and at the right time.
