Reforming Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Jeremy Rockliff,

The Tasmanian Government is investing $4 million in the upcoming 2020-21 Budget to commence implementing the comprehensive recommendations made in the Review, all of which have been accepted.

We acknowledge that there are longstanding issues and gaps within CAMHS, and that a fundamental shift in the delivery of services is required to ensure that young Tasmanians can receive the best possible mental health care.

The Government’s Response gives effect to the Review recommendations, and captures the structural and practice changes required to reorientate CAMHS and build better links and partnerships with other services and Government agencies.

Phase One of the Government’s Response includes:

  • $500,000 to establish a new tiered senior management team to facilitate a single unified CAMHS; in the coming days we will be advertising for a Statewide Clinical Director to lead these reforms;
  • $1.8 million to set up a dedicated and highly specialised CAMHS service for children in out-of-home care;
  • $1 million to set up the Youth Early Intervention Service; and,
  • $500,000 to increase the capacity of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service to provide coverage to the North and North West.

The CAMHS Review was undertaken by independent consultant Professor Brett McDermott, an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry with extensive experience in the development and delivery of contemporary CAMHS services elsewhere in Australia.

Professor McDermott consulted with a broad range of stakeholders including CAMHS staff, people with a lived experience of using CAMHS, paediatricians, professional bodies and unions, GPs, Government agencies, the community sector, and the Commissioner for Children and Young People.

The Tasmanian Government takes child and adolescent mental health extremely seriously, and we are taking a best-practice approach to building a contemporary, integrated model of mental health care so our children and young people can get more holistic support at the right place and at the right time.

The CAMHS Review Report and Government Response is available here:https://www.health.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/rethink_mental_health_project/mentalhealthreform/latest_news

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