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 POLICIES

Appendices and Community Synopses: Determining Best Practice in Information Provision to People of Diverse Cultural & Linguistic Backgrounds
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/infoprov2.html

Asia-Pacific Forum for International Mental Health Cooperation
http://www.apacforum.unimelb.edu.au

Determining Best Practice in Information Provision to People of Diverse Cultural & Linguistic Backgrounds: A Qualitative Report
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/guidelines/infoprov.html
Released February 1997

Mental Health for Multicultural Australia: A National Strategy
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/multicult.html
The proposal which led to the ATMHN

Multicultural Australia: The National Multicultural Advisory Council
http://www.immi.gov.au/multicultural
Various reports, fact sheets and summaries on Multiculturism in Australia.

Multicultural Practice and National Disability Service Standards
http://www.mmha.org.au/organisations/linkage_advocacy/malssa.html
from MALSSA

National Mental Health Strategy
http://www.mmha.org.au/Policy/AustralianMentalHealthPolicy
The overall program under which the ATMHN operates.

National Standards for Mental Health Services
http://www.mmha.org.au/Policy/NationalStandards/file_view
Released February 1997

Public Health Association Policy on Mental Health
http://www.pha.org.au/policy/mentalhe.htm
The PHA provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on public health.

Public Health Association Policy on Multiculturalism and Health
http://www.pha.org.au/policy/multicul.htm

Procedures for Persons of Non-English Speaking Background
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/guidelines/qtmhc_procedures.html
(from the QTMHC) Procedures for services to meet the requirements of the National Standards for Mental Health Services

STATE POLICIES

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

Australian Capital Territory: Status of Service Provision For NESB Communities
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/act_policy.html

Fact Sheets: Priorities for Mental Health Service Delivery in South Australia
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/sa_policy.html

Northern Territory: Principles for the Provision of Mental Health Services for Migrants, Refugees and their Families from NES Backgrounds
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/nt_policy.html

Queensland Health: NESB Mental Health Policy Statement
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/q_policy.html
Broad statements of principle, no timelines

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.

WA Mental Health Policy Statement: Exective Summary
http://www.mmha.org.au/research/policies/wa_execsum.html
An overview of the whole plan, of which the NESB plan is only a small component

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