Final QMHC Strategic Plan Report 2 Appendices Part B

Final QMHC Strategic Plan Report 2

Appendices Part B

Project Director: John Mendoza

www.connetica.com.au

Final QMHC Strategic Plan Report 2 Appendices 25 November 2013

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Table of Contents

Appendix Six – Submission form Department of Education, Training and Employment .............................................................................................................................. 3

Appendix Seven -‐ Submission from Department of Justice and Attorney-‐General, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland .................................................... 7

Appendix Eight -‐ Submission from Queensland Public Advocate ......................... 11

Appendix Nine -‐ Submission from Victim Assist Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-‐General ............................................................................................ 16

Appendix Ten-‐ Submission from the Office of the Director-‐General Department of Justice and Attorney-‐General ............................................. 19 Appendix Eleven – Themes identified per policy ....................................................... 21



Appendix Six – Submission form Department of Education, Training and Employment









Appendix Seven - Submission from Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Purpose

The following information outlines Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s initiations

relating to mental health and drug and alcohol management. It is provided for the

purpose of the Queensland Mental Health Commission Strategic Plan Policy project.

Psychosocial Initiative

The major causative mechanism of work-related mental disorders recorded in the

National Data Set is mental stress. Work-related stress is a significant risk factor for

developing depression and evidence indicates that job stress is rapidly emerging as the

single greatest cause of work-related disease and injury, and as a significant contributor

to the overall burden of disease in society. Mental stress itself is caused by work

pressure, harassment, client aggression and violence at work, exposure to a traumatic

event, suicide or attempted suicide and other mental stress factors. Common work-

related psychiatric diagnoses include those that fall in to the categories of anxiety

disorders, mood disorders and adjustment disorders.

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 requires employers, so far as is reasonably

practicable, to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks

to health, including psychological health. Since 2004, the Psychosocial Unit within

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has been working towards their goal

of reducing work-related psychological injury through the implementation of employer

strategies that manage the risk of psychosocial hazards in the workplace. The

psychosocial hazards areas targeted by WHSQ include work-related stress, workplace

bullying, client aggression and violence at work and fatigue.

Programs and guidance developed by WHSQ that should be considered in the

development of a whole-of-government strategic plan to address mental illness include:

Work-related Stress

The People at Work Project is a research collaboration among the University of

Queensland and the Australian National University, with Workplace Health and Safety

Queensland, WorkSafe Victoria, WorkCover NSW, Safe Work Australia, Comcare, and



Beyondblue (partner organisations). People at Work is a best-practice risk management

process for injury resulting from exposure to psychosocial hazards in the workplace. A

newly developed stand alone website includes all the information and practical

resources organisations need to implement this process:

www.peopleatworkproject.com.au

• A series of 12 tip sheets have been developed to provide organisations information

about identifying and managing work-related stress:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/subjects/stress/index.htm

Workplace Harassment/Bullying

WHSQ has developed the following Code of Practice, guidance and information on

workplace harassment (or bullying):

• Prevention of Workplace Harassment Code of Practice 2004:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/prevention-workplace-

harassment-cop-2004.pdf

• A workplace harassment information tool that provides general information to users

on the various options available to them to resolve allegations of workplace

harassment (or bullying) in their workplace:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/subjects/harassment/tool/index.htm

• Information for employers on workplace harassment complaints:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/workplace-harassment.pdf

• The role of WHSQ in harassment complaints:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/whsq-workplace-

harassment.pdf

• “Workplace bullying. If you don’t step In, you’re supporting it” poster.

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/bullying_stepin.pdf

Client Aggression and Violence and Work

• This handbook provides a framework to identify, prevent and manage aggression

and violence in health industry workplaces:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/Prevention_management_healt

h_services.pdf

Fatigue



• This handbook Managing fatigue guide gives general and practical information about

managing fatigue in the workplace. It is relevant to workers, employers, the self-

employed and contractors:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/fatigue management.pdf

Should you require further information on the about please contact Kirsten Way,

Manager, Psychosocial Unit on (07) 3404 8169 or [email protected].

Healthy Workers Initiative

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has partnered with the Department

of Health to implement the Queensland Workplaces for Wellness Initiative (QW4WI).

The QW4WI aims to build the capacity of workplaces to improve the health and

wellbeing of workers. WHSQ is specifically focussing on the Queensland Public Sector,

rural and remote workplaces, and the construction industry, transport industry and the

resource sector. The QW4WI targets health risk factors including physical inactivity,

unhealthy eating, and smoking and risky alcohol consumption. Although mental health is

not a specific focus of the initiative, several projects under the strategy will assist

workplaces to improve practices relating to the health and wellbeing of their workers

across a broad range of health issues.

Key projects include:

• Grant funding programs for workplace health and wellbeing initiatives

• Workshops to educate workplace representatives on how to develop and

implement an effective health and wellbeing program

• Workplace health and wellbeing improvement audits (audit of current practice

and recommendations for improvement)

• Workplace health and wellbeing advisory service

• Research projects in target industries.

Should you require further information about specific projects please contact Glenn

Smith, Manager, Healthy Workers Initiative on (07) 3247 9138 or

[email protected].

Factsheet - Framework for alcohol and drug management in the workplace

A factsheet, which outlines a framework for developing a policy on reducing the work-

related risks associated with drug and alcohol use. This factsheet is available on the

WHSQ web site.



The framework is applicable to all workplaces, including those in industries for which

there are legislative provisions requiring the development of drug and alcohol

management (including testing) programs, such as those relating to rail safety workers,

passenger transport and heavy vehicle drivers and those for which there is legislation,

such as mining and aviation, prohibiting employees from working while affected by

alcohol or drugs.

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/alcohol-drug-management.pdf



Appendix Eight - Submission from Queensland Public Advocate











Appendix Nine - Submission from Victim Assist Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-General Victim Assist Queensland (Victim Assist) was established in December 2009 within

Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) to act as a central point of contact

for victims of violent crime to provide financial assistance, timely access to specialist

support services and to improve the coordination of services including specialist

counselling and court support for victims of crime in Queensland.

Local Coordination and Capacity Building Program

Victim Assist Queensland's Local Coordination and Capacity Building Program are

located in the Ipswich, Cairns, Rockhampton and Townsville Courthouses.

Under this program, Victim Coordination Officers can provide a range of face to face and

phone support across the State to victims of crime with high and complex needs,

including disability, impaired capacity or mental health issues, going through the criminal

justice system, where no other service exists. Support may include intensive court

support including preparation, assistance completing a Victim Impact Statement and

attending court with the person, and supporting warm referral pathways to specialised

organisations where available. Victim Coordination Officers additionally work with local

specialised service providers to promote victims' rights and build capacity within the

sector to provide effective and appropriate service provision to victims of crime.

This includes coordinating and delivering training, information seminars and

strengthening referral pathways to enhance service to clients.

Fundamental Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime

Chapter 2 of VOCAA sets out nine Fundamental Principles of Justice (Justice

Principles), which victims of violent crime have a right to expect relevant government

entities to comply with. The Justice Principles are based on the United Nations

Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice of Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.

Chapter 2 of VOCAA also sets out a complaints process if a victim of crime believes that

a government agency or officer has behaved in a way that is inconsistent with the

Principles.



The Justice Principles include a right to information on available support services as well

as information on the investigation and prosecution process and information in relation

to the imprisonment of convicted offenders.

In an effort to further give victims of crime a voice in the court process the VOCAA was

recently amended to strengthen the provisions relating to the reading out of victim

impact statements in court. The previous provisions in VOCAA contemplated a victim

reading aloud their victim impact statement if they wished, however the new provisions

make it clear that the sentencing court must allow a victim, who wants to and when it

reasonable to do so, to read aloud their victim impact statement. For vulnerable victims

this amendment may present an opportunity to participate more fully in the court process

by proving and opportunity to advise the court of the adverse effect of the crime on their

life – which may include the development or exacerbation of mental health issues.

Referral and Access to Information for Victims of Crime

Victim Assist works closely with government and non government organisations

supporting victims of crime in Queensland including those with a mental illness and or

drug and alcohol dependency. Referrals are made to funded services such as the

Relationships Australia’s counselling service and specialist government agencies such

as the Queensland Health Victim Support Service (QHVSS) to ensure that victims of

crime are supported and every opportunity is made for a full recovery from the act of

violence.

Reciprocal referral and collaborative working relationships are imperative to ensure that

a victim of crime receives all the services and information they require to fully recover

from the act of violence.

Mental Health Court

Victim Assist works closely with QHVSS to facilitate access to specialist information and

services for victims of crime who need understanding and support to navigate the

complexity of the forensic mental health system.

Other Related Justice Contacts

Queensland Courts (often oversee a range of government and non-government service

providers within the courthouses who can provide services, information and referrals to

victims going through the criminal justice system) including the Queensland Courts

Innovation Program and Community Justice Groups.



Mental Health Court Liaison Service (QHealth Mental health Officers positions that sit

within courthouses to provide assessment and referral services to people identified as

having mental health issues upon attending court matters).

Legal Aid Queensland



Appendix Ten- Submission from the Office of the Director-General Department of Justice and Attorney-General Good afternoon,

I am responding on behalf of Mr. John Sosso, Director-General of DJAG in relation to

the below email.

I apologies for the delay in responding. DJAG would like to provide the below input.

The Queensland Courts Referral (QCR) is a bail-based process which enables

defendants to engage with non-government organisations (NGOs) and government

agencies to address the causes of offending behaviour by assisting defendants with

drug and/or alcohol dependency, mental illness, intellectual disability, cognitive

impairment, and homeless people or those at risk of homelessness who come into

contact with the criminal justice system.

Queensland Courts Referral aims to:

• Provide short term assistance to defendants appearing on charges who have a

health and/or social problem through referral to treatment or community support

services; and

• Reduce the likelihood of long term re-offending.

Offenders are linked to the QCR Case Assessment Group (CAG) where their needs are

assessed and appropriate support identified for them to engage with outside of the court

process.

QCR currently operates out of the Brisbane Magistrates Court. There has been

consultation with stakeholders from the Beenleigh, Cairns, Ipswich, Mt Isa, Southport

and Townsville areas to engage in and provide a similar service to operate out of

those Magistrates Courts. There is also consideration to expand the service

into additional Magistrates Courts. Consultation with stakeholders in these regions will

commence during the second half of 2013.’

Should you require any further information please contact Ms. Tarnya Comyns,

Manager, Diversion and Referral Services, Courts Innovation Program on 3234 1024.

Regards



Justine Hodgman A/Senior Correspondence Officer Office of the Director-

General Department of Justice and Attorney-General



Appendix Eleven – Themes identified per policy





Documents

Final QMHC Strategic Plan Report 2 Appendices Part B