Mental health in Disability Services
About Mental Health Branch
In September 2007, Machinery of Government changes resulted in Disability Services assuming primary responsibility for funding, developing and implementing, and monitoring of all existing and new mental health programs delivered through non-government service providers.
In response to this, Disability Services established a Mental Health Branch within the HACC and NGO Contracting Business area.
Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017
The Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 outlines priorities for the reform and development of mental health care, improving mental health service delivery in Queensland. The non-government and community sectors have a key role in providing non-clinical, personal care and other flexible supports to people living with mental illness, their families and carers.
In recognition of the impact that the Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 will have on the non-government sector, Disability Services will be reviewing and updating the plan.
Disability Services will be holding a statewide consultation with key stakeholders to seek views on important developments and research being undertaken within the sector.
Get involved and have your say on the new Queensland Plan for the Mental Health Community Sector 2009-2017.
If you would like to take part in the consultation, see the session details in the schedule of workshops .
Please RSVP via email to Sandra Foresto at Disability Services or telephone (07) 3008 5162.
You can also provide comments on the plan via our online survey.
Mental health recovery
The dominant practice framework underpinning all DSQ mental health programs is Recovery. Recovery is the journey toward a new and valued sense of identity, role and purpose outside the parameters of mental illness; and living well despite any limitations resulting from the illness, its treatment, and personal and environmental conditions. (Queensland Government Position Paper 2005)
Sharing Responsibility for Recovery creating and sustaining recovery oriented systems of are for mental health.
Guiding Principles for Consumer Participation – A resource document for psychiatric disability support services and consumers (this document is currently on the intranet)
Mental health community organisations sector development
Disability Services Queensland has, as part of this major investment into mental health services, developed a number of initiatives targeted at sector development primarily focusing at three areas:
- workforce development;
- leadership and governance development; and
- infrastructure development.
Work on sector development includes a strong partnership with the Queensland Alliance and other key stakeholders in the government and non-government sectors.
An important component of the sector development work is to identify and link non-government mental health organisations with existing commonwealth and state sector development funding and initiatives. It also aims to identify gaps in existing sector development activities and explore options for addressing them.
Funding
The Queensland Government 2007-08 State Budget committed $58.09 million to DSQ to develop and implement a range of new community mental health programs. Of this, $35.64 million has been allocated over four years to purchase a range of accommodation and recovery-focused lifestyle support services from the non-government sector. In addition to this, $22.45 million over four years has been allocated for non-clinical support for people entering social housing.
Contact us
Email mentalhealthbranch@disability.qld.gov.au
Last updated May 2009