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A governmental policy initiative on transcultural
mental health:
An Australian Approach
A/Prof Abd Malak AM
• Social justice policy development in Australia
• Australian Multicultural Health Policy
• The need for policy targeting the diverse community
• An example of an Australian policy approach – Multicultural Mental Health Australia.
This presentation will cover:
Background
Immigration 1901 white Australian policy – approx. 6
million WWII other European countries (2006) ¼ out
of 20 million
Policy 1940 – 1960 assimilation 1966 abolished assimilation 1970 multiculturalism
MilestonesMilestones Introduction of universal health insurance – 1970s The Henderson Report (Commission of enquiry
into poverty 1975) Federally funded community health program 1975 Ethnic lobby and voluntary organisations (Bilingual
Professionals and Health Care Interpreters) Galbally report (Migrant services and programs)
1978 Federal and State Government legislation and
policy
Multicultural Policies
What is multiculturalism?
Where is multicultural Australia heading?
What is our future?
What is our identity as a culturally diverse nation?
What is our Australian value?
??????
The policy emphasises:
A commitment to and promotion of an Australia of ethnically and religiously diverse peoples
A vision of an Australia in which the public good informs development and implementation of all government policies and programs.
Let me define multiculturalism as:
A value-system based on respect and understanding that is reciprocal
An agent for peace and community harmony
A rights and social justice based and
A framework that embraces diversity in all its forms and gives it social, cultural, political and economic meaning with modern, pluralist communities
Why Australians Need a Multicultural Policy and PlanMulticultural Policy and Plan
1. Respond to Growing Diversity in Australia
2. Provide Quality Health Services
Address Special Health Care Needs of Residents from Culturally &
Linguistically Diverse Communities
• Ensure that health benefit is maintained
• Address the special areas where health status is shown to be poorer than Australian born residents
• Address the needs of particular at risk or priority groups
Maintain Cost Effectiveness of Area Services
Incorrect or late diagnosis for NESB patients/consumers as well as delayed discharge
Failure to gain informed consent, overuse of crisis services, accident and emergency and acute mental health services
Unnecessary hospitalisation Carrying out unnecessary procedures and the overuse of
tests and pathology to assist in reaching a diagnosis Failure to comply with treatment regimes leading to the
deterioration of health, unnecessary readmission and in some cases passing on of infection to a public health risk
Wasted appointments Legal and insurance costs
Increased costs can result from:
Utilisation of Mental Health Services
Lower rates of hospitalisation for mental disorders than the Australian born
Longer lengths of stay than English speaking people
A much higher proportion of CALD inpatients are involuntary
Low rates of utilisation of community-based mental health services
About Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA)
A national program focusing on and providing national leadership in multicultural mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Works to promote better mental health and well being for a diverse community.
Represents an alliance of consumers, carers, the community, state-wide specialist services the tertiary sector operating as a consortium.
Aims of the Framework To promote the mental health of all people in
Australia from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Where possible, to prevent the development of mental health problems and mental illness for people from CALD backgrounds
To reduce the impact of mental illness of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, families and communities and
To assure the rights of CALD people with mental illness
Community
Services &service providers
Commonwealth & stateGovernments
& national programs
Target groups
Communitygroups
ConsumersCarers
Strategic ForumStrategic Forum
PartnerOrganisationsAffiliated
OrganisationsAdvisers
Broad direction and agenda setting
Strategic ForumStrategic Forum
PartnerOrganisations
AffiliatedOrganisations
Advisers
Joint Officers GroupJoint Officers Group
Framework Implementation and state development
Strategic ForumStrategic Forum
PartnerOrganisationsAffiliated
OrganisationsAdvisers
Joint Officers GroupJoint Officers Group
MMHA ConsortiumState-wide specialist service providers
Peak consumer, carer, disabilityand community organisations
Founder organisations
MMHA FoundationAdvisers•Clinical issues
•Evaluation•Governance
•MH promotion & prevention•Service development & clinical leadership
•Suicide Prevention•Workforce development.
Consortium Operations Group –program oversight
MMHA Staff
and ex officio
members
MMHA Consortium Members are
State-wide specialist service providers concerned specifically with advancing the mental health of people form culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Peak consumer, carer, disability and community organisations concerned with the well-being of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, their families, carers and communities.
Founder organisations are current members who were members of the original MMHA consortium.
conclusion Basic Principle
Mainstreaming– long term– quality– structural change
Partnership– we can’t do it all– we haven’t got all the ????
Key components of successful policy and programs
Responsibility
Resources and infrastructure
Monitoring & evaluation
Community involvement
It is everyone’s business
Provides protection under the law for the individual as an Australian Citizen
Be part of Australia
Australia part of a diverse and interesting world
Australian legislation and policy
It is:
A whole government approach (national, state and local government)
Supported by Major political parties
Achieved significant gain to community building and economic prosperity
However, we still need more time and
honesty in identifying challenges of
diversity and responding to it
dhi.gov.au
dhi.gov.au\clearinghouse
mmha.org.au
Contact Information
Strengths & Sustainable Solutions 10 – 12 March 2008
Sydney Convention & Exhibition CentreDarling Harbour, Sydney
Visit: www.dhi.gov.au/conference