Health and Ageing: Ongoing initiatives
Mental health
On 5 April 2006, the Prime Minister announced the Australian Government's contribution of $1.9 billion over five years to the National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-11. The Plan sets out agreed outcomes and specific policy directions for action that emphasise coordination and collaboration between government, private and non‑government providers in order to deliver a more seamless and connected care system.
This National Action Plan represents a commitment to deliver mental health services in a more integrated way – between governments, and between the government and non-government sectors. Governments have agreed to a model of community-based coordinated care for people with serious mental illness who are most likely to benefit and who are most at risk of falling through the gaps in the system.
This National Action Plan also outlines a series of new initiatives that will be implemented over a five-year period. All governments have agreed to continue investment in the area after this time. The Plan focuses on promotion, prevention and early intervention; improving mental health services; providing opportunities for increased recovery and participation in the community and employment, including through more stable accommodation; providing better coordinated care; and building workforce capacity.
Mentoring for regional cancer services
The Australian Government is providing $14.1 million over four years from 2005-06 to 2008-09 to assist hospitals, providers and support networks to develop and implement cancer care mentoring. A cancer services networking and mentoring system linking regional with metropolitan services is helping to foster multidisciplinary approaches in regional areas where on-the-ground support is less comprehensive. This networking and mentoring programme is supporting linked groups of health professionals and organisations from primary, secondary and tertiary care to work in a coordinated manner to provide equitable provision of high quality services throughout their region.
Nurse Scholarship Programme
The Australian Government has committed $20.6 million over three years from 2005-06 to 2007-08 to continue the Nurse Scholarship Programme which provides support to nurses, former nurses and nursing students in rural and remote areas of Australia. Since its inception more than 3,000 scholarships have been awarded under this programme.
Strong rural and remote health workforce
The Australian Government has provided $17.2 million over three years to 2007-08 for the National Rural and Remote Health Support Services Programme. This programme supports the rural and remote workforce through a number of initiatives including the funding of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for allied health students and professionals.
Additional practice nurses for rural Australia and other areas of need
The Australian Government is continuing to provide support to general practices in rural and remote areas to employ practice nurses. The Additional Practice Nurses for Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need initiative was continued in the 2005-06 Budget, and provided funding of $129.7 million over four years to 2008-09. Over 1,100 general practices in rural and remote Australia are accessing the rural practice nurse initiative through the Practice Incentives Programme.
Rural and regional respite services
The Australian Government is providing $9.3 million over four years from 2005-06 to 2008-09 for an additional supplement of $20.45 per day for Multipurpose Services that provide respite services for older Australians and their carers living in rural and remote areas.