Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2002-06-20
Can the minister inform the House what the government’s contribution to the national initiative, Beyond Blue, will be?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for this very interesting question. Each year in Australia, around 800 000 people experience depression. In fact, it is a very salutary statistic that one in five Australians will at some stage in their life experience depression. Less than 40% of these people present for care, and fewer that one in six receive evidence-based treatment. Most people with depression experience significant disability and those presenting for care are likely to have relapsing or chronic disorders.
The current health burden of depression and the projected future impact on our society prompted the federal and Victorian governments to develop Beyond Blue, the national depressive initiative. The aim of Beyond Blue is to promote effective population health-based strategies. Current projects focus on increasing community awareness of key aspects of depression, such as characteristic symptoms; risk factors; pathways to care and effective treatment strategies; promoting destigmatisation of people with depression and related disorders; confronting barriers that discourage full social participation; and advocating for improved primary care-based mental health services.
Beyond Blue is an important national initiative, and the Northern Territory government fully supports it. Today, I can inform the House that the Territory government will make a financial contribution of around $40 000 per annum towards the funding of Beyond Blue. This contribution will make the government a full member of Beyond Blue, with the right to vote on company issues and acknowledge the initiative’s funding of the Top End division of general practice, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Program. The division of Top End Mental Health Service and Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education are finalising a memorandum of understanding on the provision of training, education and support for Aboriginal mental health workers.
I also inform the House that I have appointed the Director of Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education, Professor Veronica Arbon, to be the Territory representative on the national committee. Professor Arbon was born in Alice Springs and has held various university positions, including at the South Australian Institute of Technology, the South Australian College of Advanced Education, and the Cumberland College of Health Science. Professor Arbon is also the former Director of the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney. Her research interests include Aboriginal women’s health issues and research methodology and education. I am sure everyone in this House would congratulate our Professor Arbon on this appointment.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs AAGAARD: Next Monday, I will sign the memorandum of understanding with Beyond Blue. I will also be attending a public meeting on depression in Darwin. The forum, which is open to the public, will attempt to increase community awareness of depression, as well as offering an opportunity for consumers and carers to express their views. The financial contribution by this government and the signing of the MOU is a significant development in the campaign against depression.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for this very interesting question. Each year in Australia, around 800 000 people experience depression. In fact, it is a very salutary statistic that one in five Australians will at some stage in their life experience depression. Less than 40% of these people present for care, and fewer that one in six receive evidence-based treatment. Most people with depression experience significant disability and those presenting for care are likely to have relapsing or chronic disorders.
The current health burden of depression and the projected future impact on our society prompted the federal and Victorian governments to develop Beyond Blue, the national depressive initiative. The aim of Beyond Blue is to promote effective population health-based strategies. Current projects focus on increasing community awareness of key aspects of depression, such as characteristic symptoms; risk factors; pathways to care and effective treatment strategies; promoting destigmatisation of people with depression and related disorders; confronting barriers that discourage full social participation; and advocating for improved primary care-based mental health services.
Beyond Blue is an important national initiative, and the Northern Territory government fully supports it. Today, I can inform the House that the Territory government will make a financial contribution of around $40 000 per annum towards the funding of Beyond Blue. This contribution will make the government a full member of Beyond Blue, with the right to vote on company issues and acknowledge the initiative’s funding of the Top End division of general practice, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Program. The division of Top End Mental Health Service and Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education are finalising a memorandum of understanding on the provision of training, education and support for Aboriginal mental health workers.
I also inform the House that I have appointed the Director of Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education, Professor Veronica Arbon, to be the Territory representative on the national committee. Professor Arbon was born in Alice Springs and has held various university positions, including at the South Australian Institute of Technology, the South Australian College of Advanced Education, and the Cumberland College of Health Science. Professor Arbon is also the former Director of the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney. Her research interests include Aboriginal women’s health issues and research methodology and education. I am sure everyone in this House would congratulate our Professor Arbon on this appointment.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs AAGAARD: Next Monday, I will sign the memorandum of understanding with Beyond Blue. I will also be attending a public meeting on depression in Darwin. The forum, which is open to the public, will attempt to increase community awareness of depression, as well as offering an opportunity for consumers and carers to express their views. The financial contribution by this government and the signing of the MOU is a significant development in the campaign against depression.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016