Last year, the Australian Government announced a $2.2 billion package to fund national mental health reform over five years. At the core of the reforms are: 1) more intensive and better coordinated support services for the severely mentally ill, 2) stronger primary care services and targeted support to the disadvantaged and those most in need, and 3) greater services for children and youth, including better detection of potential mental health problems in early years.
Recent initiatives include the implementation of a 24/7 acute response team and family support service in Perth, the launch of 30 individualized benefits that will better enable people with severe mental illness to live in the community, and establishment of the Consumer Reference Group to help set up the new National Mental Health Consumer Organisation.
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