T HE P O L I CY D ES KOn a broader scale,AMAV is advocating fora continuation of mentalhealth service funding (i.e.,for mental health fundingnot to be withdrawn fromhealth services). Thisconsideration considers theadditional burden of thenew Act and details fromthe Department’s AnnualReport, indicating thatmental health services werenot able to be deliveredlast financial year at theprojected levels due toworkforce/bed constraints.Furthermore,weareurging the Departmentand the OCP to reduceduplication, i.e. unnecessarypaperwork, and bureaucracy,and streamline workloadsfor healthcare workers.We are also advocatingfor solutions to enhancethe recruitment andretention of individualsin the mental healthworkforce, particularlyaddressing concerns aboutsenior leadership positions,for example directors ofpsychiatric inpatient unitsin hospitals and directorsof community psychiatrypositions — individualscapable of creating thevision to sustain a service.Additionally, AMAVictoria is activelyadvocating on:» ADHD access foradults and children» CBD safe injectingfacility» Drug checking(pill testing)» Pharmacotherapy(opioid replacementtherapy) services» Improving culturalsafety in the mentalhealthcare workforce.AMA Victoria will bemeeting with MentalHealth Minister Stitt inMarch to discuss thesematters further.In the current situation,we are aware that Ahprahas conducted inquiries intothe received complaints.However, it is relevant tonote that all investigationshave (so far) concludedwithout necessitating aformal inquiry.Our discussion withAhpra extended to howthese outcomes are beingcommunicated to medicalpractitioners. We willcontinue to discuss thiswith Ahpra, AMA Federaland other state AMAs overthe coming weeks andwork to provide clarityfor doctors and otherhealth professionals.AUSTRALIAN HEALTHPRACTITIONERREGULATION AGENCY (AHPRA)---Meeting with Ahpra todiscuss notifications aboutmedical practitioners inrelation to social mediaposts regarding the conflictin Israel and GazaIn January 2024, AMAVand AMA Federal met withAhpra and Dr Anne TonkinAO, Chair, Medical Boardof Australia, to discussnotifications about medicalpractitioners in relation tosocial media posts regardingthe Middle East conflict.VI CD O C AUTU M N 202481
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