Mental health services for Kimberley Aborigines

27/4/94

Health Minister Peter Foss today announced the establishment of what might become Australia's most innovative mental health services for Aboriginal people.

In Derby as part of a four-day visit to the State's North, Mr Foss said he hoped the proposed Kimberley Aboriginal Mental Health Service would become a national demonstration project on how best to deliver more culturally appropriate services to remote Aboriginal communities.

Mr Foss said the service would be overseen by Kimberley psychiatrist, Dr David Bathgate, and managed by a community advisory committee made up of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members.

"An amount of $90,000 - provided under the national reform and incentive program - will be used to set up the first stage of the project, with Aboriginal health workers based in the Kimberley region," he said.

"The Northern Health Authority and the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Council, the partners in this joint venture, also plan to expand the project into a bicultural service which caters for the mental health needs of all Kimberley residents.

"To fulfil this role, they have applied to the Commonwealth for additional funding under the national mental health policy.

"Should they be successful, the Kimberley unit will be the first bicultural mental health service with specialist Aboriginal workers in Australia.

"The service would also be unique in that it would be the first service of its kind established in consultation with Aboriginal medical service providers."

Mr Foss said another $90,000 had been allocated to the Goldfields Health Authority to establish a similar Aboriginal mental health service.

Details of the Goldfields service are still being finalised.

Media contact:  Jeanne Klener (09) 222 9595 / (09) 325 8655