Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Groups with particular needs under the Mental Health Act - Aboriginal clients

In dealing with Aboriginal persons reference is made to the NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Policy. It outlines a number of major issues in relation to improving services for Aboriginal people including the following:the need for mainstream services to be culturally sensitive and to address the close association between the physical health, mental health, and social, spiritual, cultural, historical, economic and political factors; the need for self-determination; the need for non-Aboriginal mental health workers to acknowledge the historical factors influencing Aboriginal Australian (including the enforced separation of Aboriginal children from their families); the need for appropriate services to address critical incidents that affect Aboriginal individuals, families and communities (including deaths in custody); the need for mainstream services to work in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health organisations. It also details a number of specific targets and outcomes including: Aboriginal clients to receive service from either a non-Aboriginal service provider accompanied by an Aboriginal person or an Aboriginal service provider; Aboriginal clients to be provided with the option to receive services that involve their families/extended families and/or significant others; assessment, admission and care coordination for all Aboriginal clients to incorporate consultation with an Aboriginal health worker; discharge planning for all Aboriginal inpatients to incorporate consultation with an Aboriginal health worker and/or Aboriginal Hospital liaison worker and family members and/or significant other; all case reviews of Aboriginal clients to include an Aboriginal health worker; Aboriginal appointments to be made to the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Mental Health Official Visitor's program. At the Bowral Mental Health Service we have been provided with an Aboriginal Mental Health worker who is well-respected in the local community and is a diligent worker and excellent role model for Aboriginal youth in the Shire. The worker's participation in the cultural and historical role of the Aboriginal people in the Wingecarribee is well known in the community. The level of collaboration between Aboriginal community groups, the Bowral Mental Health Service, the Wingecarribee Council and the Aboriginal Community Medical Service providers has ensured a commencement of the stated aim of the health service to reduce the health gap of 17 years between the non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal Australians.

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