The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s announcement to commit $4 million to initiate the first phase of the large-scale transformation of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional stresses on many children and young people,” Ms McLean said.
“At the same time, it has also stretched an already overstretched mental health service system, placing vulnerable and at-risk children and young people at even greater risk of harm.
“The funding is therefore an essential first step towards implementing the much-needed changes to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) recommended by Professor Brett McDermott in his Review of CAMHS.
“However, significant additional funding to ensure the second and third phases of the Government’s transformation agenda can be carried out will be required in subsequent budgets.
“It is pleasing to see that this initial funding for CAMHS will go towards work to re-develop and realign the CAMHS model of care and to addressing other existing service gaps, including the establishment of dedicated and specialised services for children in out-of-home care, increased capacity of the Perinatal Infant Mental Health Service in the North and North-West, and the establishment of a Youth Early Intervention Service.
“I note additional services in forensic mental health for children and young people in conflict with the law are planned for Phase 2 of the implementation process.
“This is a particularly important reform area and an essential part of a therapeutic youth justice system. I will continue to monitor implementation of the reforms and the provision of mental health services to children and young people around the state generally.”
