A governmental policy initiative on transcultural

mental health:

An Australian Approach

A/Prof Abd Malak AM

• 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.

This presentation will cover:

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

MilestonesMilestones Introduction of universal health insurance – 1970s The Henderson Report (Commission of enquiry

into 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

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?

??????

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.

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

Why Australians Need a Multicultural Policy and PlanMulticultural Policy and Plan

1. Respond to Growing Diversity in Australia

2. Provide Quality Health Services

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

Maintain Cost Effectiveness of Area Services

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

Increased costs can result from:

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

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.

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

Community

Services &service providers

Commonwealth & stateGovernments

& national programs

Target groups

Communitygroups

ConsumersCarers

Strategic ForumStrategic Forum

PartnerOrganisationsAffiliated

OrganisationsAdvisers

Broad direction and agenda setting

Strategic ForumStrategic Forum

PartnerOrganisations

AffiliatedOrganisations

Advisers

Joint Officers GroupJoint Officers Group

Framework Implementation and state development

Strategic ForumStrategic Forum

PartnerOrganisationsAffiliated

OrganisationsAdvisers

Joint Officers GroupJoint Officers Group

MMHA ConsortiumState-wide specialist service providers

Peak consumer, carer, disabilityand community organisations

Founder organisations

MMHA FoundationAdvisers•Clinical issues

•Evaluation•Governance

•MH promotion & prevention•Service development & clinical leadership

•Suicide Prevention•Workforce development.

Consortium Operations Group –program oversight

MMHA Staff

and ex officio

members

MMHA Consortium Members are

State-wide specialist service providers concerned 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.

conclusion Basic Principle

Mainstreaming– long term– quality– structural change

Partnership– we can’t do it all– we haven’t got all the ????

Key components of successful policy and programs

Responsibility

Resources and infrastructure

Monitoring & evaluation

Community involvement

It is everyone’s business

Provides protection under the law for the individual as an Australian Citizen

Be part of Australia

Australia part of a diverse and interesting world

Australian legislation and policy

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

However, we still need more time and

honesty in identifying challenges of

diversity and responding to it

dhi.gov.au

dhi.gov.au\clearinghouse

mmha.org.au

Contact Information

Strengths & Sustainable Solutions 10 – 12 March 2008

Sydney Convention & Exhibition CentreDarling Harbour, Sydney

Visit: www.dhi.gov.au/conference