The VTPU since its inception in 1989 has monitored the development of significant policies regarding mental health services at national and state government levels. This has informed all activities surrounding education, research and service development. The links listed below represent key policy areas accessible on the Internet.

If you have access to other policy documents which could be of interest, please email vtpu@svhm.org.au.

National Mental Health Policy 2008
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/../$File/pol08.pdf

National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-n-plan03

National Standards for Mental Health Services 1996
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/quality/national-standards.pdf

Multicultural Australia: United in Diversity
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/pdf/united_diversity.pdf

Multicultural publications: Department of Immigration & Citizenship
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/multicultural/

The Evolution of Australia’s Multicultural Policy - DIAC
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/06evolution.htm

Public Health Association Australia
http://www.phaa.net.au/
The PHA provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on public health.


VICTORIAN STATE POLICIES

Victoria State Policy (2009)
A fairer victoria

Victorian Government Mental Health Policy (2008)
All of us - Victoria's Multicultural Policy

Because Mental Health Matters: Mental Health Reform Strategy (2009-2019)
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/reformstrategy/../mh-matters-strategy0209.pdf

Cultural Diversity Plan for Victoria's specialist mental health services (2003 - 2010)
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/cald/cald-strategy.pdf

Cultural Diversity Plan (2007 - 2008)
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/downloads/multi_cultural_diversity_plan_2007-08.pdf

Cultural Diversity Guide DHS (2006)
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/downloads/cultural_diveristy_guide_2006.pdf

Languages Services Policy (2005)
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/downloads/language_service_policy.pdf

New Directions for Victoria's Mental Health Services
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/publications/plan02/mhp.pdf
Dept. of Human Services, Melbourne, 2002

Victoria: Extending the Framework
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/extend.html
A proposal for a statewide bilingual clinical program

Victoria's Mental Health Service
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/guidelines/hs_strat.html
Improving Services for People from a Non-English-Speaking Background
Goals, strategies, best practice examples, standards for evaluation and action plans for services
development.

OTHER STATE POLICIES

Queensland

Queensland NESB Mental Health Policy (1995)
http://203.147.140.236/pahospital/qtmhc/policies.asp

Queensland Multicultural Mental Health Plan 2003-2008
http://203.147.140.236/pahospital/qtmhc/policies.asp 

Queensland Health: Strategic Plan for Multicultural Health 2007-1012
www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/policies/0910imp_plan.pdf


New South Wales

Community Mental Health Strategy 2007-2012: From prevention and early intervention to
recovery
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2008/mh_strategy.html

NSW Multicultural Mental Health Plan 2008-2012
http://www.mmha.org.au/information/news-items/nsw-multicultural-mental-health-plan-2008-2012


Western Australia

WA Mental Health Policies and Guidelines
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/mentalhealth/publications/policies.cfm

A Transculturally Orientated Mental Health Service for Western Australia (2001)
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/docreg/Education/Prevention/Mental_Health/A_transculturally_
orientated_mental_health_service.pdf

Western Australia Health Department: NESB Mental Health Policy Statement
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/wa_nesbmhp1.html
Action oriented plans and timing.


South Australia

South Australian Mental Health Unit Policies and Guidelines
http://www.health.sa.gov.au/mentalhealth/Default.aspx?tabid=39


Australian Capital Territory

Mental Health ACT website
http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=&did=10050411

ACT Action Plan for Mental Health Promotion,Prevention and Early Intervention 2006 – 2008
http://health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=dlpol&policy=1174883362 


Northern Territory

NT Mental Health website
http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Mental_Health/index.aspx

NT Mental Health Policies 
http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Mental_Health/Publications/index.aspx