eNews  |  June 2023

New Minister for Mental Health

I welcome the recent appointment of The Hon. Shannon Fentiman as Queensland’s new Minister for Mental Health.

I’m pleased mental health now has an elevated focus in the health portfolio and the appointment reinforces the Queensland Government's commitment to mental health.

This dedicated focus on mental health will help drive vital outcomes for all Queenslanders, and progress the significant work ahead to enable the required mental health reform in the short to medium term.

This includes implementing the Queensland Government’s unprecedented investment of $1.645 billion and commitments in response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders.

In addition, we're on the cusp of renewing Queensland's strategic plan for mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and suicide prevention which will shape reform over the next five years.

The Commission looks forward to working with Minister Fentiman on progressing these important reforms.

Federal budget

I was pleased to see the recent Federal budget included funding of $556.2 million over five years from 2022–23 (and $36.0 million ongoing) to strengthen Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system.

Importantly, this included funding of $260.2 million over two years from 2023–24 to extend Commonwealth psychosocial supports for people with severe mental illness who are not in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. There has been a gap in supports available for people who are not eligible for the NDIS and doubt regarding ongoing availability of pyschosocial supports due to funding uncertainty.

Other significant funding included $136.0 million over four years from 2023–24 (and $36.0 million ongoing) to support the mental health of survivors of torture and trauma, and other culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Also welcome is funding of $91.3 million over 5 years from 2022–23 for additional psychology placements, including 500 psychology post-graduate placements, 500 one-year internships, and 2,000 supervisor training sessions (1,000 of which will be refresher places), plus a redesign of psychology higher education pathways. These initiatives will significantly contribute to addressing long-term workforce issues.

New Head to Health services for Queensland

More Queenslanders will be able to access free mental health and wellbeing support, with a $107.9 million boost to establish Head to Health services across the state. The funding will help set up and run 20 services for adults and two new services for children and families.

Impact of psychosocial hazards on peer workers

The Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network (QLEWN) and Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland (MHLEPQ) have commenced a joint project to improve understanding of the psychosocial hazards facing lived experience peer workers.

Trauma and poor mental health linked

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new paper, Intergenerational trauma and mental health, that aims to define the link between intergenerational trauma and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples’ mental health and to identify best practice policies and programs to address the issue.

University of SA Spotlight Report

The University of South Australia has released a spotlight report on person-centred and consumer-directed mental health care. The report calls for co-designed systems where both person-centred care and consumer-directed care are delivered consistently for consumers, families and kin. 

Mental health support for small businesses

The Queensland Government’s Chamber Wellness Program is providing $150,000 in grants projects to build awareness of mental health services and upskill chamber members to support local business owners. The program is part of the Queensland Government’s $8.76 million Small Business Wellness Package.

Lifeline launches new online toolkit

Lifeline has launched a new service designed to reach help seekers who aren’t ready to talk to someone else about their situation or prefer to manage things themselves. The new Support Toolkit is full of practical information, curated tools, apps, techniques and services to help individuals take the next step in their wellbeing journey.  

Opioid treatment in doubt

A Commonwealth initiative to make opioid dependence treatment more affordable under the Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme may risk private pharmacies and clinics in Queensland becoming financially unviable from 1 July. If the pharmacies and clinics close, it is estimated up to 1500 people will be left without access to treatment.

New youth mental health videos

The Queensland Mental Health Commission in partnership with the Queensland Family and Child Commission have developed a series of new youth-focused videos aimed to encourage help-seeking, improve awareness, and educate young people about their rights.

Vision for future of healthcare - HEALTHQ32

The Queensland Government has released HEALTHQ32, its 10-year vision for the future of healthcare in Queensland. HEALTHQ32 aims to provide new models of care and services, better technologies and treatments, and stronger community partnerships to improve the patient experience and their health outcomes. It also aims to boost the health workforce across the state.

Workforce Attraction Scheme

The Queensland Government has announced a new Workforce Attraction Incentive Transfer Scheme to incentivise interstate health workers to move to Queensland. The scheme will provide medical practitioners with a payment of up to $70,000 to move to Queensland, with payments of $20,000 for healthcare workers, and $5,000 for nursing and allied health students for placement in regional and rural Queensland.

Historic Path to Treaty legislation passes Parliament

Queensland’s Path to Treaty has been set into law with the passing of landmark. The Path to Treaty Bill provides the legislative framework to create the structures to prepare for negotiating a treaty or treaties between Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Queensland Government.

Domestic and Family Violence Co-Response trial

A mobile co-response to police call outs between the Queensland Police Service and government funded domestic and family violence specialist services will be trialed in Cairns. The co-response model will adopt a crisis and early intervention approach for call outs to Domestic and Family Violence incidents. 

Next Step Home to support women leaving custody

The Queensland Government is extending funding for the Next Step Home program to support vulnerable women leaving custody to rebuild their lives and avoid recidivism. The program provides critical housing support for women who are on parole or at risk of being remanded in custody.

Toowoomba Youth Co-Responder Team rolled out

Queensland’s newest youth co-responder team has launched in Toowoomba. It is the first of five new teams being established across Queensland to help break the cycle of youth offending. Co-responder teams consist of police and youth justice staff working with young people at risk of offending.

The Parliamentary inquiry into the cost of living has released its interim report, confirming wages are not growing fast enough to keep up with inflation as the cost of energy, housing and groceries rise. Read the report here.

Buy a ticket to the Songs of Hope benefit concert at QPAC! Songs of Hope is being run by HEAL, a local mental health charity providing expressive therapies in Queensland’s schools for young survivors of refugee trauma. Join HEAL for its Songs of Hope concert to create awareness and raise funds. Find out more here.

Pinangba is an Indigenous-led residential rehabilitation service in Queensland. The Queensland Mental Health Commission is currently funding a research project to understand the efficacy of Systemic Family Therapy in a Modified Therapeutic Community program. Pinangba is one of very few alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia that take in the entire family unit of adults and children for the residential stay. Read the Conversation article about the service.

Family and Child Connect has launched a new awareness campaign to help provide extra support to Queensland families who may need it. When things aren’t going to plan, Family and Child Connect provides families with free, unlimited, confidential information, advice, and referrals to trusted local organisations. Find out more here.

The National Mental Health Commission is asking for feedback on how digital technologies and social media impact young people’s mental health and wellbeing, both positively and negatively. Complete the survey.

The Australian BPD Foundation has released the Queensland Service Directory, a new guide providing a source of information about services and treatments for people with lived experience of Borderline Personality Disorder, and their families and carers.  Find out more here.

Sponsorships

We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. Next round closes 31 August. 

Sector grants

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants.

Events

Check out the latest major sector events, hosted by the Commission and partner organisations.

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