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Social justice policy development in Australia Australian Multicultural Health Policy

A governmental policy initiative on transcultural mental health: An Australian Approach A/Prof Abd Malak AM. This presentation will cover:. Social justice policy development in Australia Australian Multicultural Health Policy The need for policy targeting the diverse community

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Social justice policy development in Australia Australian Multicultural Health Policy

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  1. A governmental policy initiative on transcultural mental health:An Australian ApproachA/Prof Abd Malak AM

  2. This presentation will cover: • 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.

  3. 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

  4. Milestones • Introduction of universal health insurance – 1970s • The Henderson Report (Commission of enquiryinto 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

  5. 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? • ??????

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. Why Australians Need a Multicultural Policy and Plan • Respond to Growing Diversity in Australia • Provide Quality Health Services

  9. 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

  10. Maintain Cost Effectiveness of Area Services Increased costs can result from: • 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

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. 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

  14. Community Community groups Consumers Carers Commonwealth & state Governments & national programs Services & service providers Target groups

  15. Strategic Forum Broad direction and agenda setting Partner Organisations Advisers Affiliated Organisations

  16. Joint Officers Group Strategic Forum Framework Implementation and state development Partner Organisations Advisers Affiliated Organisations

  17. Consortium Operations Group –program oversight • MMHA Consortium • State-wide specialist service providers • Peak consumer, carer, disability and community organisations • Founder organisations Joint Officers Group • MMHA Foundation • Advisers • Clinical issues • Evaluation • Governance • MH promotion & prevention • Service development & clinical leadership • Suicide Prevention • Workforce development. Strategic Forum MMHA Staff and ex officio members Partner Organisations Advisers Affiliated Organisations

  18. MMHA Consortium Members are • State-wide specialist service providersconcerned 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.

  19. conclusion Basic Principle • Mainstreaming • long term • quality • structural change • Partnership • we can’t do it all • we haven’t got all the ????

  20. Key components of successful policy and programs • Responsibility • Resources and infrastructure • Monitoring & evaluation • Community involvement • It is everyone’s business

  21. Australian legislation and policy • Provides protection under the law for the individual as an Australian Citizen • Be part of Australia • Australia part of a diverse and interesting world

  22. 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

  23. However, we still need more time and honesty in identifying challenges of diversity and responding to it

  24. Contact Information • dhi.gov.au • dhi.gov.au\clearinghouse • mmha.org.au

  25. Strengths & Sustainable Solutions10 – 12 March 2008Sydney Convention & Exhibition CentreDarling Harbour, Sydney Visit: www.dhi.gov.au/conference

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