SCOTT LEVI, HOST: And some good news, a facility to help manage the growing number of locals with mental health issues is opening today on the Central Coast. And I've had calls from anguished family members from not only the Central Coast but all over Australia who've had big battles to get the right amount of care for someone, particularly people who might have been threatening self-harm and whatnot. Don't forget too, Lifeline Crisis Line is always there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 13-11-14. In case of emergencies, please call Triple Zero. The Medicare Mental Health Centre has been operating from a temporary facility with the ribbon cutting today at its new premises on the Pacific Highway at Tuggerah. So a very central location. Doing the honours will be the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the member for Dobell, Emma McBride. Good morning. Thanks for having a chat with us this morning. Emma McBride? Good morning. Sorry about that.
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Good to be with you, Scott.
LEVI: I had to push the right button there. Just before we get into this new centre opening today, and it's much needed, earlier we were talking about concerns with an aged care facility being approved on the grounds of Mingara. Now we certainly need more good aged care facilities, but the close proximity to poker machines is something that the CEO didn't really want to talk about, but you would hope that that's all being factored in. What are your thoughts about balancing the needs for aged care and the potential risks of poker machine addiction? Because we know that some illnesses like Parkinson's and other neurological disorders can exacerbate that problem.
MCBRIDE: Yes, Scott. I've spoken to the Aged Care Minister and I understand that the Commonwealth doesn't determine the locations, it's the providers who are putting forward proposals for locations and the planning decision, which then sit with the state government and in this case, the independent planning panel. But also to reassure your listeners in terms of the balance. We have a community where one in five residents are over 65 and many of those are seeking more support. So there are robust quality and safety guidelines. There's a Quality and Safety Commission. So if any older person in residential aged care was thought to be at risk or potentially at risk, then there would be a really strong safeguard there in place balancing the need, the growing need for aged care and residential aged care on the Central Coast and residents' safety and care.
LEVI: It's interesting the CEO didn't really want to engage on that, but it's an important discussion to have. Should the Commonwealth be looking more closely at locations of aged care facilities right next to licenced premises full of poker machines?
MCBRIDE: I think Scott, as I've just mentioned in our community we have a large and growing older population. The Central Coast has been a very popular place for older people to downsize, to retire. It's close to hospitals, lots of support services. And I agree that there needs to be strong consideration, which is why this has gone to an independent planning panel because of the value of the project and that planning process and decision making is independent for a reason. But in terms of the safeguard, there is this robust quality and safety standards and commission so that if any resident or future resident was to be at risk or may come into harm's way, that there would be safety and protection for them there.
LEVI: We'll have to have a much closer look at their determination and see if those issues have been addressed, because I think most of our listeners would agree that those sorts of things are important to make sure that there are safeguards for older people. Back to the Tuggerah Medicare Mental Health Centre. How does it work? Do you need a referral?
MCBRIDE: No, you don't, Scott. I worked in the mental health inpatient units at Wyong Hospital for many years. And what I saw was people whose distress escalated to crisis simply because there wasn't support in the community. So what we're doing is removing any barriers to care. Someone doesn't need a referral. They don't need a diagnosis. And they also don't need an appointment. And these centres are open extended hours across the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.
LEVI: And so it's a walk in. You can walk in?
MCBRIDE: You can walk in because we know that in Australia today about one in five adults experience mental health concerns that need additional support in any year. So across the country, that's 4.3 million Australians, which is why at the last election, I was so proud to stand next to the Prime Minister and Minister Butler to announce a $1.5 billion investment in free mental health supporting communities. And of that, about $267 million going towards new or upgrades of these centres right across the country.
LEVI: What about family members who have concerns? It's often the case that people who should be seeking help don't and families have to fight hard to get them to see someone. How can they be accommodated?
MCBRIDE: These services have been designed with family in mind and carers because we know how important they are to people seeking support. So a family member could call 1-800-595-212 or visit www.medicarementalhealth.gov.au or just walk in, Scott, to be able to seek support and care. The particular centre in Tuggerah is also a consortium so it's working with Relationships Australia understanding that relationships and that connection is so important to somebody getting well and staying well. So a family member or caregiver would also be able to talk to someone from Relationships Australia at the centre in Tuggerah.
LEVI: Mental health care in New South Wales is under scrutiny at the moment after it emerged that a man was discharged from a long term stay at a mental health hospital in Orange eight months before- eight months ago before allegedly bashing a 74-year-old man to death in Yennora in Western Sydney. The accused has been living in supported accommodation in Carlingford at the time. How are we working with the state government to try and prevent more incidents like these?
MCBRIDE: We’re working really closely with state and territory governments. We're working to renegotiate the new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, and that includes bilaterals with each state and territory, including New South Wales. And Minister Jackson and Minister Ryan Park have been deeply engaged in these renegotiations. And importantly, Scott, as well now, we have the voice of lived experience, people who have mental health concerns themselves or families or caregivers. And that input into these decisions and policymaking is really shaping better evidence-based practise and care that that is more compassionate and empathetic. And it's absolutely tragic that this incident occurred.
I saw the acting minister, Minister Whan, stand up an immediate review into what has happened. But from a Commonwealth level, we're working with each state and territory to make sure that their agreement is robust, that the bilaterals are strong, and that better support is provided now and into the future.
LEVI: It’s quite expensive housing people individually. Is there still discussion about opening more mental health hospitals, secure hospitals? We do have one at Morisset. I think there's one at Stockton that's now not used. Some in the field say that we need more of that.
MCBRIDE: I understand from the decisions that happened- in the ‘70s and ‘80s of changing what was institutionalised care into care in the community. And the big gap from people who have worked in the system for very long tell me was that then there wasn't a boost of the right kind of care in the community. We know that earlier intervention works, which is why as a Government, we’re now offering free mental health support in the community across the lifespan. So Kids Hubs from 0 to 12 and there’s one in Tuggerah, headspaces for 12 to 25-year-olds and there’s one in Gosford, Wyong and Lake Haven and the new Medicare Medical Health Centres. Because from my experience, working in mental health, from what experts tell me, earlier intervention in the community is what has the best impact and that’s what we’re trying to work to do.
LEVI: Right. Good luck with the ribbon cutting today. Thanks for joining us.
MCBRIDE: Good to be with you, Scott.
LEVI: Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Member for Dobell, Emma McBride. And a new Tuggerah Medicare Mental Health Centre, a drop-in centre where you can actually rock up in crisis times is opening today.