The Commission acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away
The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Report
4. Implementation
For this Strategy to have the intended impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing, it must be acted on
For this Strategy to have the intended impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing, it must be acted on. To this end, we recommend the Commission establish a National Steering Committee, with representation from across relevant Commonwealth Government portfolios (such as health, education and social services), Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander representatives, implementation experts, and people with expertise in the provision of child mental health supports and treatment. This Steering Committee would be time limited and support the Commission to develop an implementation plan and initiate the process of monitoring progress against the relevant indicators of change. Input should be sought from parents, carers, children and young people as required. Indicators of change should measure the impact of the strategy in a way that takes geographical location and specific population groups into account, to determine equity of impact. Indicators are also not intended to exclude the use of qualitative data, and/or other measures of quality improvement from the child and family perspective, such as reduction in distance travelled or being able to see the same practitioner for an extended period.
To assist with implementation planning, we recommend Inter-Departmental Committees (IDCs) be established at the Commonwealth level as well as within each jurisdiction, to identify what each government department could do towards achieving each of the objectives in the Strategy. The IDCs would have a critical role in ensuring the proposed actions were supported by all relevant departments and ensure a genuinely collaborative approach to overcoming any barriers such as those government agencies may face in giving priority access to services for children in State care. Therefore, the IDCs must include representatives from disability, justice, education, family support, early childhood, and health (maternity, primary care, maternal and child health, mental health). They must also include representation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, parents, carers, children and young people.
Each IDC should regularly (such as every 3 years) report to the Commonwealth and State and Territory Health Ministers on their progress against each of the objectives, with an independent organisation monitoring the proposed indicators of change nationally. The final indicators used and the frequency of reporting should be determined through agreement between the data custodians and IDCs.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia. We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
