Mental Health funding welcomed

Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is working to ensure Tasmanians who need mental health support can get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

That’s why we welcome the funding announced in the 2021 Federal Budget of $2.3 billion for mental health care and suicide prevention, including urgently needed crisis services and the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention Office.

We also welcome the $26.9 million over four years from 2021-22 to provide additional support for people with eating disorders and their families, and to establish a National Eating Disorder Research Centre.

An additional $500 million has also been announced to deliver on the ground services to regional and disadvantaged areas which will be delivered through Primary Health Networks.

These announcements build on the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s election commitments to deliver mental health services to Tasmanians when and where they need it.

This includes $40 million for the first stage of a new Mental Health Precinct adjacent to the North West Regional Hospital, along with the appointment of a new Mental Health Peer Workforce Coordinator, recruitment of a locally-based mental health specialist for the Circular Head region, and the initial scoping of the operational model for the $5.1 million Emergency Mental Health Co-Response Team pilot.

We look forward to working with the Australian Government and health service providers to deliver on these commitments to meet the needs of the Tasmanian community.

I also welcome the prioritisation of funding for people with disability. The additional $13.2 billion announced for disability supports through the NDIS will complement the election commitments made by the Tasmanian Liberal Government including the establishment of a Tasmanian Disability Services Commissioner.

/Public Release. View in full here.