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2022-23 Annual Report

/ Annual Report

We are so inspired every day by the incredible vision of recovery, resilience and community-building that our 51 members deliver…

ACT Preventive Health Action Plan 2023-2025

/ Submissions

The ACT Government is to be congratulated for prioritising prevention in the ‘Healthy Canberra’ Plan and the Action Plans. MHCC ACT also acknowledges the community consultation undertaken by the ACT Government to refine this Action Plan. This Action Plan moves forward and refines a number of the actions identified in the previous Action Plan. MHCC ACT acknowledges the value of moving the previous Action Plans’ ‘actions and responsibilities’ into a ‘program logic’ structure of ‘objectives, actions, responsibilities, outcomes, and indicators’.

However, there also are significant gaps in the Action Plan, which lacks detail as a plan to implement the ‘Healthy Canberra’ plan. These gaps include actions for the stated priorities of priority populations, mental health, climate change, and equitable access. It is also missing actions on other priority issues, such as loneliness and isolation, lived experience, stigma and discrimination.

NDIS Review 2023

/ Submissions

We make with this submission a clarion call for the need for increased focus on
prevention, on early support and on holistic approaches which recognise and respond to the underlying social determinants of mental health. All of these responses and alternative types of support/system improvements must be adequately funded. It is also imperative that there be adequate investment in mainstream and disability supports, services and systems outside the NDIS (Tier 2) such that the NDIS does not remain an “oasis in the desert”.

ACT Drug Strategy Action Plan 2022–26

/ Submissions

The MHCC ACT supports the principle of harm minimisation and commends the ACT Government for its demonstrated commitment to approaching drug use as primarily a health issue, adopting evidence-based policies and minimising the involvement of the justice system as much as possible.

We also commend the government for its associated commitments to eliminating stigma and discrimination against people who interact with Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs services and to recognise the invaluable contribution of lived experience and the peer workforce to this sector. The recognition in the Action Plan of the importance of the non-governmental sector and of the effective collaboration and integration supporting the provision of AOD services in the ACT is noted and reiterated.

This submission is focused on those elements of the Action Plan that relate to the interaction between the AOD sector and the wider community-managed mental health sector.

Public Exposure Draft of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2022

/ Submissions

MHCC ACT welcomes the ACT Government’s aspiration to make “renting a secure and sustainable option for those who rely on it”, and particularly welcomes the abolition of “no cause” evictions. However, we recommend the government limit the grounds for eviction rather than introducing new grounds. This includes removing the ‘behavioural grounds’ for eviction from the Bill.

We recommend that the ACT Government introduce a standalone ‘reasonable and proportionate’ test that requires the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal to consider whether an eviction order would be reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances of each case.

Inquiry into the Legislative, Workplace Governance and Clinical Frameworks of DHULWA

/ Submissions

The MHCC ACT understands the serious safety concerns of staff that led to this Inquiry being initiated and acknowledges the importance of a safe and respectful environment for staff, consumers and carers within the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit.

We believe there needs to be dedicated and supported consultation with consumers and carers to ensure that their input is considered alongside the vital input from Dhulwa staff.

Along with greater inclusivity in decision-making, more transparency around policies, processes and procedures should assist in promoting constructive relationships between all stakeholders.