STRENGTHENING TASMANIA’S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SYSTEM

Jeremy Rockliff MP, Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

The 2022-23 Tasmanian Budget delivers for all Tasmanians as we build upon our long-term vision to transform the mental health system, alcohol and drug services, and boost preventative health measures.

We know in many cases, when a person is experiencing mental health distress, hospital may not be the most appropriate place for care and treatment. That’s why this Budget further strengthens our focus on community support options.

Following the early success of our pilot Emergency Mental Health Co-response model in Southern Tasmania - also known as the PACER service - we are locking in our support of this initiative with an additional $9 million over three years. Further to this, the Department will start work on a North West pilot to operate from early 2023 as we progress our vision for a statewide model.

Building on our significant investment into mental health and wellbeing, we have allocated $6.5 million for the ongoing Mental Health Reform Program, which will allow for the roll-out of adult Acute Care and Continuing Care models in the North and North West – providing alternative services for people to avoid acute hospitalisation where this is not necessary.

Further, we will deliver $1.5 million over three years to continue the implementation and evaluation of Tasmania’s overarching mental health plan, Rethink 2020, with a particular focus on suicide prevention.

We are continuing to roll out our investment of $45.2 million for Child and Adolescent Mental Health reforms. This year will see the first stages of new services established, including a youth forensic service and a specialist service for children in out of home care.

As we continue implementing the recommendations of the Roy Fagan Centre Review report, the Budget provides $20.5 million over the next four years to further improve patient care and outcomes through Older Persons Mental Health Services. This funding will enable our Government to significantly improve the overall level of care and treatment provided to older Tasmanians, with a specific focus on mental illness, including increased community-based services statewide.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to ensuring those seeking alcohol and other drug treatment can get the right care when and where they need it.

This year’s Budget allocates $7.5 million over two years to continue the implementation of the Reform Agenda for the Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector in Tasmania which aims to reduce the harms associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

We will also commit funding over two years from existing resources to a grants program for the alcohol and other drugs sector to employ peer workers. A further $1.27 million has been allocated over four years to support the new, whole-of-government Tasmanian Drug Strategy 2022-27.

We are also supporting the important ongoing work of the Drug Education Network with additional funding of $900,000 over four years, to secure its educational and support services in the broader community, including schools, for early intervention and prevention programs.

Since coming to Government, we have announced investment to 2025 of more than $300 million in Tasmania’s mental health and alcohol and drug services system.

Our investments prioritise our best-practice approach to building a contemporary, integrated model of mental health and alcohol and drug care across the State, so all Tasmanians can get the right support at the right place and at the right time.