The South Australian Psychologists Association (SAPA), a sub-branch of the Health Services Union (HSU), has today revealed that several critical public mental health services are no longer able to provide psychological care due to ongoing workforce losses and government inaction.
Four major services — which provide support to some of the most vulnerable South Australians — have now lost all their psychologists:
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The Statewide Neuro-behavioural Units, which support South Australians with dementia and their families, now have no psychologists remaining.
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The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, providing inpatient care for those with acquired brain injury, has no psychologists left.
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The South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service, treating individuals with complex intellectual disability and mental health needs, has no psychologists left.
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The Eastern Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, responsible for treating infants, children and young people with serious mental health and behavioural issues, is now without a single psychologist.
In response, SAPA members will escalate protected industrial action from Wednesday in a bid to force urgent intervention from the Malinauskas Government.
Quotes attributable to SAPA President Deborah McLean:
“SAPA members will escalate industrial action from this Wednesday to urge the South Australian government to offer fair pay and conditions to South Australian public sector psychologist, currently the lowest paid psychologists in the country”.
“As long as these positions sit vacant, South Australians who need and deserve these critical public psychology services are missing out”.
“SAPA members will take action to disrupt bureaucratic processes while remaining on the front line for the consumers who depend on us”.
“Unless the South Australian government takes meaningful action to save public sector, yet more critical frontline services will be imminently lost”.
Deborah McLean is available for interview.
Contact details:
0412 789 192