9As |
a: The Hon Tanya Davies MP
Minister for Mental Health
NSW Minister for Women
GoverNMENT Minister for Ageing
M16/7070
Ms Liz Crowther
President
Community Mental Health Australia
Room 1.06, Level 1
Griffin Centre, 20 Genge St
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601
Dear Ms Crowther
Thank you for your correspondence to the. former Minister for Mental Health regarding the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on NSW Government commitments to community managed mental health services.
There is currently no commitment of NSW Government mental health funding to the NDIS. It is the NSW Government’s intention to retain the existing funds committed for the community managed mental health sector in NSW beyond the full roll out of the NDIS.
The NSW Government is continuing to work with the Commonwealth on the roll out of the NDIS in NSW during its transition period, including discussion around any appropriate contribution of in-kind resources and supports for participants with a mental illness.
In December 2014, the NSW Government commenced a decade long reform of mental health to shift the balance from hospital to community-based care and to ensure people can live well with a mental illness. This is supported by a record $1.8 billion for mental health services in 2016-17 including a focus on suicide prevention, young people and community mental health services.
As part of that reform, the NSW Government is committed to working in partnership with the community managed sector and has made additional investments to expand psychosocial supports provided by community managed organisations for people with mental illness living in the community. In 2016-17, the NSW Ministry of Health has committed over $84 million to fund community managed organisations to support young people and adults with severe mental illness in the community. The majority of these supports could be aligned to the Non Government Organisation Establishments data set specifications for personalised support services and involve flexible responses to a person’s individual needs.
GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: (61 2) 8574 5350 Fax (61 2) 9339 5576 Web: www.nsw.gov.au
In addition, the NSW Government Partnerships for Health initiative involves mental health community managed organisations being funded $16.7 million in 2016-17 to deliver supported accommodation, family and carers programs, and non residential day programs.
Thank you again for bringing this matter to the attention of the NSW Government. If you require further information, please contact Ms Amy Wyndham, Director,
Community Partnerships, Mental Health Branch, NSW Ministry of Health, on
Yours sincerely