Archived Media Releases: 31 March 2006

Senate urges action on mental health

The Senate Select Committee on mental health has tabled its first report in Parliament. The report, which includes recommendations on workforce issues and education of health professionals, challenges all levels of government to address Australia’s mental health crisis.

Responding to the report, ANF federal secretary Jill Iliffe said decades of neglect of the mental health system had resulted in a crisis that could no longer be ignored.

‘This report confirms a combination of political will and adequate funding of mental health can restore a sense of humanity to the vast number of people in our communities affected by mental illness.’

A copy of the Senate select committee report on mental health can be viewed at http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/mentalhealth_ctte/report/index.htm

Media Contacts
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lani Stanistreet, Manager Communication & Journals 0414 471 339

The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia