MHIMA blog

Latest update from Frank Quinlan, CEO Mental Health Australia:

As you know, Mental Health Australia submitted recommendations to the Department of Health about the future of the MHiMA Project on schedule in late March. The Government has not yet made a decision about these recommendations and it is not clear when they will, though clearly this will not be during caretaker period.

I can advise the Department has extended the MHiMA Project to 31 December 2016 while Government considers the findings from the Future Recommendations report. The six-month extension is not business as usual – it is an interim measure and a reduced version of the project. With significantly reduced project activities, we are unfortunately unable to continue current project staffing arrangements past 30 June (when existing MHiMA Project staff contracts end).

To ensure the minimal activities identified by the Department are progressed, from 1 July the Project will be supported by a single project officer position only. I would like to acknowledge and thank the current project staff for their hard work and commitment in challenging and uncertain circumstances.

We will continue to receive information and updates and support participation in national policy and initiatives, as required.

While we too are disappointed with this interim stage, we hope that by supporting the NCCCWG and Project Advisory Group, and by continuing to try and inject CaLD issues into the national policy agenda, we have the best chance of securing a longer term future for the MHiMA Project. 

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any queries or feedback.