People in rural and remote Australia needing mental health support will have much better access to services through Liberal Nationals Government funding to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The Minister for Regional Services, Senator Bridget McKenzie, said the Liberal National government is providing approximately $20 million over four years for the iconic service to deliver new mental health services from 1 January this year.
This will include flying professional mental health workers into areas where they are needed to deliver more services on-the-ground.
“I have recently seen just how important these services are in regional Queensland, having visited the Alpha Hospital and multipurpose medical facility and evacuation facilities,” Minister McKenzie said.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides a critical service and expects to deliver a range of mental health services to around 150 locations for the first six months of next year.
“Services vary from state to state and may include face-to-face treatments and interventions, individual, family and group sessions, and support for telehealth services.
“The funding is part of our response to the shortage of mental health services in rural and remote Australia.
“We know there is a higher need for mental health services in these locations, compounded by an unequal distribution of the health workforce. The funding will mean real benefits to patients in rural and remote areas who do not have access to mental health services because Commonwealth-funded activity doesn’t reach them.”
Last year, the Royal Flying Doctor Service published a report on mental health in remote and rural communities, which showed a range of factors exacerbating mental health service delivery.
These included poor access to primary and acute care, limited numbers of mental health services and mental health professionals, reluctance to seek help, concerns about stigma, distance and cost, and cultural barriers in service access.
This year marks the 90th year of operation for the RFDS.
