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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 10:48 |
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Focusing on the needs of people is the centrepiece of the Community Alliance's mental health policy. "The ACT has the highest rate of long term mental health conditions in Australia, at nearly 14%. We need to do better," said Norvan Vogt, Candidate for Molonglo. "Our first step will be to look at all the multi-million dollar promises for infrastructure and facilities, then sit down with patients, their families and nursing staff and, if necessary, redesign the proposed facilities to create something that will work," said Mr Vogt.
"In particular, young people with mental illness are an area where improved early intervention and detection can lead to a greatly improved outcome for sufferers and their families," said Mr Vogt. Some of the key initiatives the Alliance will implement are: Construction of a residential acute-care facility for children with mental illness, and respite care services to support people caring for those with mental illness. The delivery model will be developed and evaluated in partnership with those who rely on the services and their families and carers. Increase the number of school counsellors, so that they can be placed in all secondary schools. Counsellors' availability in primary schools will also be increased to allow more contact time with younger students in need of assistance. Families with young babies are under a lot of pressure, which can be a trigger for mental health problems. These families will be better supported by improving the availability of community health nurses, including the re-instatement of home-visits for new mothers through a maternal and child health services program. Mr Vogt: "The Community Alliance Party offers an alternative for Canberra voters. Free of ideology or the desire to build expensive monuments, our policy is based on getting the basics right for Canberra and the ACT." Contact: Norvan Vogt |
Media Releases 
The Community Alliance Party is a dynamic alliance of ACT residents, community groups, and business people. We are seeking to establish balanced government and to make our Capital a better and more affordable place to live. We will achieve this through:
