Allan Fels AO to Head Up Australia’s First National Mental Health Commission
Professor Allan Fels AO will chair the nation’s first National Mental Health Commission, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, has announced.
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15 October 2011
Professor Allan Fels AO will chair the nation’s first National Mental Health Commission, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced today.
Professor Fels is best known as the former head of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. He is currently Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), Chairman of the Haven Foundation and a Patron and participant in numerous mental health organisations.
The appointment of Professor Fels AO represents a major step towards the establishment of the new independent Commission.
“Professor Fels will work closely with the CEO, Robyn Kruk and Commissioners who will be drawn from a range of areas to provide independent advice to the Government on national mental health reform,” Mr Butler said.
“Professor Fels has been deeply involved in mental health for more than a decade and has personal experience as the carer of a daughter with mental illness.
“As former head of the ACCC, Professor Fels brings significant experience in governance and advocacy to the role. He proved very effective in raising the profile of consumer protection in Australia and I’m confident he will do the same for mental health.”
The Commission will provide cross-sectoral leadership in mental health and drive transparency and accountability in the system to deliver better outcomes for consumers and carers.
“The new Commission will advocate that the needs of consumers and carers are front and centre of policy making and that these needs are given the priority they warrant by all levels of Government,” Professor Fels said.
The key aim of the Commission will be to measure and independently report on what is happening in our mental health system.
The Commission’s responsibilities include:
- Manage and administer the Annual National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention;
- Monitor and report on the performance of the mental health system including through ongoing evaluation of the Ten Year Roadmap for Mental Health Reform which is currently being developed;
- Develop, collate and analyse data and reports from a range of sources - with a particular focus on ensuring a cross sectoral perspective is taken to mental health reform;
- Provide mental health policy advice to Government in consultation with relevant agencies; and
- Engage consumer and carers in mental health policy and service improvements.
Through the 2011-12 Budget, the Gillard Government is investing $32 million to establish the new Commission.
For more information, please contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7280
For interviews with the Minister or Professor Fels, please contact Virginia Kim, 0407 415 484
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