Annual Report 2014 - 2015 the Hon
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Annual Report 2014 - 2015 The Hon. Pru Goward MP 52 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Minister Goward I am pleased to submit the Annual Report of the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June 2015. The report details the progress and relevant statutory and financial information of this agency. The report is for your submission to the Parliament of NSW and has been prepared in accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984, the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Regulation 2010, and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. John Feneley NSW Mental Health Commissioner October 2015 2 Mental Health Commission of NSW Annual Report 2014 - 2015 Contents _____________________________________________________________ Commissioner’s message 4 _____________________________________________________________ About the Commission 5 _____________________________________________________________ Highlights 8 _____________________________________________________________ Our work 10 _____________________________________________________________ Our partners 30 _____________________________________________________________ Our Commissioners 32 _____________________________________________________________ Community Advisory Council 36 _____________________________________________________________ Our people 38 _____________________________________________________________ Organisation chart 39 _____________________________________________________________ Appendices 40 _____________________________________________________________ Budgets 60 _____________________________________________________________ Financial overview 61 _____________________________________________________________ Financial statements 62 _____________________________________________________________ We wish to pay respect to Aboriginal elders – past, present and emerging – and acknowledge the important role of Aboriginal people and culture within the NSW community. The Commission advises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers that this report may contain images of people who have passed away. The Commission acknowledges the lived experience of people recovering from mental distress, and of those who offer them support and hope. We are committed to guiding NSW towards full recognition of the rights of people whose lives are affected by mental illness and away from stigma and discrimination. Mental Health Commission of NSW Annual Report 2014 - 2015 3 Commissioner’s message Welcome to the Annual Report of the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales for 2014-15. The Commission really came of age this year, with the Government’s acceptance in December of the core direction and the 141 specific Actions in Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024. In launching the Strategic Plan, the good mental health is for everyone Premier committed the Government – irrespective of where they live, to what he described as “a once-in-a- their personal circumstances or their generation overhaul of mental health cultural background. care service delivery … People have a better chance at recovery if they’re It has been a privilege to lead and able to access the care they need in shape the huge consensus for the community.” change that has brought us to this point. I would like to thank all the That is a resounding endorsement of Commission’s stakeholders, who the principles in the Strategic Plan, worked tirelessly to make the case and a testament to the hard work for change, and the Government, of individuals and organisations for seizing this opportunity to across NSW, who worked with the break tired old patterns and take an Commission during our 18 month ambitious stand for fundamental consultation period to craft a reform. meaningful and practical agenda for change in our approach to mental With the Strategic Plan released and health in this state. adopted, the Commission’s core role changes. We are now responsible for Let us be absolutely clear: this is ensuring that the promise of change not business as usual. A person- is fulfilled. centred approach to mental health, with recovery at its heart In part, that means stepping and underpinned by a drive to fully into the role described in improve psychological wellbeing our establishment legislation of for the whole of our community, monitoring and reviewing the is now NSW Government policy. mental health system, and reporting This commitment – exceptionally annually to Parliament on what we progressive in Australian and world find. This year we have worked hard terms - applies not just within the behind the scenes to develop this health system but for the first time capacity. We have engaged with across family, housing and disability Government agencies to begin to services, education, justice and the define new measures that will focus entire spectrum of Government on actual improvements in people’s activity. It acknowledges the diversity lives rather than just the amount of of NSW, and clearly states that work the system is doing. We have 4 Mental Health Commission of NSW Annual Report 2014 - 2015 built a small expert team to manage Government agencies and local for better mental health in the this highly specialist function. councils to embed cutting-edge community, and it was an honour thinking about promoting mental to have had him among our four But this is not the whole story. We wellbeing deeply into workplaces, inaugural Deputy Commissioners. also have an exciting opportunity to policies and business practices. bring about change by working with We have invested in building the I also thank the Community Advisory others to model new approaches and capacity of Local Health Districts, Council, whose essential advice support their adoption, consistent awarding them project grants to kick- has helped keep the Commission with our legislated functions start the changes they consider most on course. Its members have for mental health research and essential in their regions. contributed energetically and offered innovation. thoughtful feedback as we have The Commission carries the authority shaped and tested our ideas and At the time of the launch of the of Parliament under its Act while work program. Strategic Plan, the Commission remaining small, flexible and agile. I negotiated with Government to believe that by working with such a The Commission’s staff have receive an additional $1.8 million, diverse range of partners, including worked with dedication through a to be paid over this and the following passionate clinicians throughout demanding year, and I appreciate financial year, to fund research the system, the Commission has a their good grace, energy, projects which are foundational to unique opportunity to accelerate commitment and professionalism. reform. the progress of the very best The Commission will continue to This grant was drawn from the $5 ideas. These are the ones with the be guided by people who have a million difference between the potential to disrupt outdated ways lived experience of mental illness initial $30 million commitment of doing things and model how the and their families and carers. We made by the Government on the future might look in ways that others look forward to the next stage of Commission’s establishment for its can appreciate and replicate. our shared journey, when we will first three years of operation, and It is essential that the Commission start to see the dividends of change: the recurrent funding it actually maintains the financial and better experiences for those who live received during this period. The intellectual capacity to identify with mental illness, and improved Government allocated the remainder the best approaches – those that wellbeing for everyone. to other reform-related activities. respond creatively to NSW’s mental This year we have worked with health reform challenges - and leading research organisations, such to champion them in a crowded as the Black Dog Institute, NH&MRC marketplace of ideas. We must plan Centre of Research Excellence in and seed our partnerships now in Suicide Prevention, Young and Well order to see them come to fruition John Feneley Cooperative Research Centre and over the coming months and years. ReachOut.com, using this funding to I wish to thank the Deputy respond to urgent questions about Commissioners for their leadership the best approaches to preventing and wisdom, which anchor the suicide and to harnessing the power Commission’s direction and all of online technologies to support the decisions we make. I must young people’s mental health. particularly acknowledge the Separately, we have led the contribution of Professor Alan Rosen development of a Wellbeing AO, who stepped down from his role Collaborative, working with in March. Alan is a tireless advocate Mental Health Commission of NSW Annual Report 2014 - 2015 5 About the Commission Our role The Mental Health Commission of New South Wales has a particular responsibility to consult with and represent the Purpose views of people with lived experience of mental illness, and To drive reform that improves their families and carers. the mental health and wellbeing of the people of New South The Commission was established in allows it to bring people’s ideas and Wales. 2012 for the purpose of monitoring, experiences into the heart of its reviewing and improving the mental advice to government. Vision health system and the mental health Under its Act, the Commission was and wellbeing of the people of NSW. The people of New South Wales