The Process of Transforming Mental Health Services in Australia

Australia commenced a nationally coordinated transformation of its public and private mental health services in 1993. This paper presents an overview of the changes in mental health service delivery using data from the 2004 Australian National Mental Health Report. In the 10 years from 1993 to 2002, government spending on mental health increased 65 percent in real terms, with a 145 percent growth in expenditure for community-based services. Government subsidies to the private psychiatrist sector have declined. Consumer and carer participation in service planning and delivery increased, measures to improve quality introduced and patient level outcome measures are being adopted widely. However, some consumers with specific needs have been neglected and the transformation has not been implemented uniformly across the country.