The Government is making major investments in hospitals and health services. In the 2011-12 Budget, the Government is committing over $3 billion in new initiatives over the forward estimates.
The Government is announcing a $2.2 billion package over five years to deliver on its commitment to make mental health a national priority and take the first step towards reform
This Budget will deliver $1.5 billion in new initiatives over five years including:
- $571 million to expand services and improve their delivery for people with severe mental illness;
- $492 million for prevention and early intervention mental health services for children and young people;
- $220 million to improve access to the primary health care system for people with mental illness; and
- $32 million for a National Mental Health Commission to increase accountability and transparency, including $12 million in new funding.
This $2.2 billion package includes significant investments recently made by the Government — such as tackling suicide, and more mental health nurses. The Government is also investing in sub‑acute mental health beds through COAG.
The Government is providing $1.8 billion over six years to deliver important health infrastructure for regional Australia
This includes funding for 63 projects across Australia and a further regional priority round of the Health and Hospitals Fund to help ensure that regional hospitals and health services receive critical upgrades.
This Budget invests $740 million over five years to give Australians affordable access to medicines and technologies.
This includes:
• $613 million for the latest medicines and immunisations; and
• $104 million to expand access to Magnetic Resonance Imaging services.
This Budget allocates $53 million over four years to help address the long-term challenges in dental health
The Government will introduce a voluntary dental internship year targeted at the public dental system.
The Government is also providing $139 million over four years to continue the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Delivering on the Government’s health reform
These investments build on the Government’s national health reform to ensure future generations of Australians enjoy world class health care by increasing funding and transparency in our public health system.
In an important milestone, all States and Territories signed a new deal on National Health Reform in February 2011 which guarantees the States and Territories.
Making mental health a national priority
Mental illness is a major community concern
Mental illness affects nearly every Australian in some way. It is the leading cause of disability and around one‑third of Australians will experience a mental illness at some stage in their lives.
The mental health care system can be crisis‑driven, with many people only receiving help when they are at their most vulnerable, instead of help to stay well. There are many effective services, but they are often not well integrated, funded, or targeted. This makes it difficult for people with mental illness and their families to navigate the system and to access services based around their individual care needs.
Not enough is being done to prevent mental illness, or to detect it early, so that treatment can be provided to prevent social isolation, disadvantages such as homelessness and unemployment, and tragedy such as suicide. This is particularly important for Australia’s young people — our kids and teenagers — and those most vulnerable in our community.
Prioritising mental health
The Prime Minister has declared mental health to be a national priority, appointed this country’s first federal Mental Health Minister and brought together experts to tackle the problem. The Government has backed this with substantial investment in health system reform, together with targeted mental health funding in the 2010‑11 Budget, and its election commitment to tackle suicide.
These actions have been about recognising the need for more investment, reform, and a longer‑term plan to guide further reform of the mental health system.
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