National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum
NMHCCF Executive NMHCCF Activities 2005 NCCF Activities 2004 NCCF Activities 2002 - 2003
The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) is a national initiative, operating under the auspice of the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA).
In November 2005, in order to reflect the mental health purpose of the NMHCCF and distinguish itself from other consumer and / or carer organisations within Australia, the National Consumer and Carer Forum (NCCF) changed its name to the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF).
MHCA provides support and resources for the NMHCCF, which is funded through State and Australian Government contributions. The NMHCCF reports to the MHCA Board as well as directly to the Australian Health Ministers'' Advisory Council National Mental Health Working Group (AHMAC NMHWG).
NMHCCF activities are guided by the Terms of Reference , which set the aims of the NMHCCF. The aims of the NMHCCF are:
- to enhance, promote and progress genuine national partnerships and the recognition of mental health consumers and carers at all levels of government and community;
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to provide ways to improve access to and sharing of relevant information between national networks and organisations;
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to strengthen and develop the mental health consumer and carer focus of entities at the national, state and local levels;
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to increase meaningful opportunities for and capacity of mental health consumers and carers to advocate for and participate in legislation, and policy development, implementation and evaluation at all levels;
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to provide an informed strong and unified voice on Consumer and Carer issues to government, the Mental Health sector and other stakeholders;
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to identify best practice, protect human rights, highlight deficiencies and influence positive systemic change for the recognition and benefits of Consumer and Carer participation at all levels; and
- to develop and agree to national principles and priorities of action and strategies aligned with the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008.
The NMHCCF's unique model was developed collaboratively in 2002 by peak consumer and carer groups and the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council National Mental Health Working Group (AHMAC NMHWG).
NMHCCF membership comprises of consumer and carer representatives from peak mental health groups around Australia, including:
- Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill;
- Australian Mental Health Consumer Network;
- blue voices;
- Carers Australia;
- Consumers' Health Forum of Australia;
- GROW - Self Help / Mutual Help Groups;
- National Network of Private Psychiatric Sector Consumers and Carers; and
- one Consumer and one Carer representative from each State and Territory.
The NCCF Executive meets regularly - face-to-face or by teleconference - to monitor progress of the NMHCCF's business and projects. Executive member positions are re-elected annually and include:
| 2 co-chairpersons: |
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| 2 deputy co-chairpersons: |
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It is each NMHCCF member's responsibility to report to their respective jurisdictions. Feedback is passed on at a federal level through the MHCA's representation on the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council National Mental Health Working Group (AHMAC NMHWG).
One of the most important points of focus for the NMHCCF in 2005 lay in the area of the Federal Government's proposed welfare to work reforms and proposed changes to the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
The NMHCCF raised concerns that the employment assessment process known as the Comprehensive Work Capacity Assessment or CWCA that will be adopted from 1 July 2006 will not only be a repackaging of old assessment tools, but will also fail to adequately capture the unique set of dynamics facing an individual living with a mental illness when re-entering the workforce.
Some of these dynamics relate to:
- the episodic nature of many mental illnesses;
- the diversity of mental illness diagnoses;
- the specific impact of a diagnosis upon the individual;
- the possibility, dynamics and ramifications of a partial or full relapse into an individual's particular diagnosis;
- an assessor's knowledge base, qualifications and familiarity with the unique set of dynamics that apply to an individual living with a mental illness (cognitive functioning / impairment, issues of stigma, required levels of employment support in situ & etc);
- the accessibility to Workcover for people living with a pre-existing mental illness: and
- the impact and side effect(s) of certain medications upon the consumer
Towards the end of 2005, there were major gains concerning the NMHCCF itself. The AHMAC NMHWG agreed to the provision of two yearly core funding cycles (pegged to inflation), an increase in funding to the MHCA Secretariat support to the NMHCCF and to consult the NMHCCF as an expert body on matters affecting consumers and carers at a national level.
2004 proved to be an exciting year for the NCCF. The first meeting of the year saw Ms Janet Meagher AM re-elected as Co-Chairperson (Consumer) and Mr Tony Fowke AM re-elected as Co-Chairperson (Carer). The NCCF also welcomed Mr Lloyd Marsh as the new Co-Deputy Chairperson (Consumer) and Ms Jean Platts as the new Co-Deputy Chairperson (Carer).
The NCCF also held a workshop to develop a consumer and carer version of Diabetes, Psychotic Disorders and Antipsychotic Therapy: A Consensus Statement, a guideline for clinicians regarding the comorbidity of schizophrenia and diabetes. The Consensus Statement was originally developed to provide information for clinicians treating people with comorbid diabetes and a psychotic disorder. The NCCF workshop was the first step in developing companion information for consumers and carers about the relationship between diabetes and treatment for antipsychotic disorders. The finalised product was distributed widely during 2005.
In early 2004, the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council National Mental Health Working Group (AHMAC NMHWG), whose members fund the NMHCCF, agreed to provide additional funding for 2 NCCF projects for 2004. These projects were:
An independent consultant, Craze Lateral Solutions, was engaged to undertake this project to complete the draft National Consumer and Carer Participation Policy produced by the NMHCCF during 2003. This policy has been renamed as Consumer and Carer Participation Policy: A Framework for the Mental Health Sector to better reflect its purpose.
The project was completed in December 2004. The NMHCCF has produced 10,000 copies of the policy, and distribution has begun to mental health organisations in Australia. If you would like to order free copies, please e-mail admin@mhca.org.au with your name, address and the number of copies requested or ring the MHCA on (02) 6285 3100.
By the end of 2005, over 5,000 copies of the Consumer and Carer Participation Policy: A Framework for the Mental Health Sector had been widely distributed to mental health consumers, carers, services and NGOs.
An independent consultant, Craze Lateral Solutions, was engaged to undertake this project to investigate new and existing models of consumer and carer participation models, with a view to improving the operations of the NCCF. The findings of this project were presented to the AHMAC NMHWG as well as made publicly available.
Other issues discussed by the NMHCCF during 2004 include:
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the impact of Federal Budget on Mental Health;
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the World Federation for Mental Health Conference;
- primary health care work between GP's and Psychiatrists;
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a review of the NSW Mental Health Act; and
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the lack of progress in reforms in South Australia and nationally.
During 2002 and 2003, the NMHCCF focussed on 3 priority areas. These include:
Thank you to all NMHCCF representatives for your ongoing hard work and commitment to improving mental health care in Australia.