AMA VICDOC Autumn 2024 - Magazine - Page 81
T HE P O L I CY D ES K
On a broader scale,
AMAV is advocating for
a continuation of mental
health service funding (i.e.,
for mental health funding
not to be withdrawn from
health services). This
consideration considers the
additional burden of the
new Act and details from
the Department’s Annual
Report, indicating that
mental health services were
not able to be delivered
last financial year at the
projected levels due to
workforce/bed constraints.
Furthermore,weare
urging the Department
and the OCP to reduce
duplication, i.e. unnecessary
paperwork, and bureaucracy,
and streamline workloads
for healthcare workers.
We are also advocating
for solutions to enhance
the recruitment and
retention of individuals
in the mental health
workforce, particularly
addressing concerns about
senior leadership positions,
for example directors of
psychiatric inpatient units
in hospitals and directors
of community psychiatry
positions — individuals
capable of creating the
vision to sustain a service.
Additionally, AMA
Victoria is actively
advocating on:
» ADHD access for
adults and children
» CBD safe injecting
facility
» Drug checking
(pill testing)
» Pharmacotherapy
(opioid replacement
therapy) services
» Improving cultural
safety in the mental
healthcare workforce.
AMA Victoria will be
meeting with Mental
Health Minister Stitt in
March to discuss these
matters further.
In the current situation,
we are aware that Ahpra
has conducted inquiries into
the received complaints.
However, it is relevant to
note that all investigations
have (so far) concluded
without necessitating a
formal inquiry.
Our discussion with
Ahpra extended to how
these outcomes are being
communicated to medical
practitioners. We will
continue to discuss this
with Ahpra, AMA Federal
and other state AMAs over
the coming weeks and
work to provide clarity
for doctors and other
health professionals.
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH
PRACTITIONER
REGULATION AGENCY (AHPRA)
---
Meeting with Ahpra to
discuss notifications about
medical practitioners in
relation to social media
posts regarding the conflict
in Israel and Gaza
In January 2024, AMAV
and AMA Federal met with
Ahpra and Dr Anne Tonkin
AO, Chair, Medical Board
of Australia, to discuss
notifications about medical
practitioners in relation to
social media posts regarding
the Middle East conflict.
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