Wednesday 7 August 2024: The Commonwealth Government has failed to fully commit to almost all the recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission that are crucial for improving the lives of people living with psychosocial disability.
Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) has identified 74 key recommendations that align with our Summary report on the Disability Royal Commission, which in our view represent transformational reform and meaningful outcomes for people living with mental health challenges and psychosocial disability. These recommendations will also strengthen the community-managed mental health services that support them. Alarmingly, only seven of these recommendations have been fully accepted.
We urgently call on the government to develop a clear action plan to address the remaining 66 recommendations that have been accepted in principle or are still under consideration. This includes:
- Establishment of a Disability Rights Act for people living with disability
- Reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which Australia is a signatory.
- Inclusion for people with disability by having the supports they need to exercise choice and maximise their independence
- Support for services to minimise intersectional inequality and prioritising cultural safety, particularly for First Nations people.
- Self-determination through co-design and co-production, as integral to reform processes
- Support programs to build self-advocacy
- Equitable access to health services including specialised health and mental health services for people with cognitive disability
- Increase accessible housing supply and enhance tenancy protections while improving oversight of supported accommodation and responses to homelessness for people with disabilities
MHCC CEO Dr Evelyne Tadros says, “The Government’s response to the Royal Commission recommendations is a critical moment for New South Wales, and for our nation. We must prioritise the rights and well-being of individuals living with a psychosocial disability. Failing to act on the remaining recommendations not only neglects the needs of these individuals but undermines the government’s commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society for all Australians.”
Media contacts:
Dr Evelyne Tadros, CEO, Mental Health Coordinating Council, 0419 22 33 60
Julia Ni, Acting Manager, Communications and Engagement, julia@mhcc.org.au, 02 9060 9631
About: Mental Health Coordinating Council is the peak body for community-managed mental health organisations in NSW. MHCC provides policy leadership, promotes legislative reform and systemic change, and develops resources and training to assist community mental health organisations to deliver quality and effective services underpinned by best practice principles. Visit www.mhcc.org.au