Policy and Advocacy
Representing the profession to politicians, policy makers and health care organisations is an important part of the work of the ACMHN national office. One way in which we ensure the profession's views are heard is by making submissions to consultation processes and inquiries. Recent submission made by the College are:
2019 Submissions
ACMHN Submission to The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System
ACMHN Response to Report from the Mental Health Reference Group to the MBS Review Taskforce 2018
2018 Submissions
ACMHN Pre-Budget Submission 2018-2019
ACMHN feedback on the Australian Labor Party’s National Platform on Health
2017 Submissions
Submission to the NSW Review of seclusion, restraint and observation of consumers with a mental illness in NSW Health facilities
Feedback on the draft scoping report re cultural competency for health professionals – produced by the Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership
Submission to Suicide Prevention Australia regarding feedback on the National Strategic Framework for Suicide Prevention Consultation Paper
Submission to the WA Mental health Commission on the Post Implementation review of Part 3: Objects of WA Mental Health Act 2014
Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Perinatal Care
2016 Submissions and Statements
Submission to the National Mental Health Commission Review of the services available to veterans and members of the Australian Defence Force in relation to the prevention of self-harm and suicide
ACMHN provided a submission to the National Mental Health Commission Review of the services available to veterans and members of the Australian Defence Force in relation to the prevention of self-harm and suicide.
Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee inquiry into the Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre.
ACMHN provided a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee inquiry into the Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre.
ACMHN Issues for the 2016 Federal Election
The ACMHN are asking all parties and candidates in the 2016 Federal election to commit to the ACMHN’s five key issues which are:
- No reduction in mental health program funding
- 3-5 year quarantining of mental health funding with PHNs
- Fund nurse workforce initiatives
- Include nurse representatives on all mental health and other relevant government committees
- Refugees and asylum seekers - Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) and amend the Border Force Act
Response from the Greens to ACMHN five key issues for the 2016 Federal Election
Consultation for the draft NSW Perinatal Mental Health Mother-Baby Unit (MBU) Model of Care
The ACMHN submission notes that overall, the MBU model of care document is very comprehensive and articulates an approach to delivering care that is multidisciplinary and coordinated. The submission provides comments on specific sections of the document including principles of the NSW model of perinatal health, the current NSW perinatal Mental Health Service System and service planning.
Joint submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into the indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment in Australia
The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) and the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) provided a joint submission to the Australian Parliament Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into the indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment in Australia.
QLD Hospital and Health Boards (Safe Nurse-to-Patient and Midwife-to-Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2015
The ACMHN comments on the Bill relate to:
- Ensuring flexibility to account for population and workforce changes
- The detail to be provided in the regulation
- The ongoing and associated costs of implementing the Bill and ratios
Joint submission: Proposed discontinuation of the Registration standard – Endorsement for scheduled medicines (rural and isolated practice)
A joint submission with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) and the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) to the NMBA public consultation paper on the proposed discontinuation of the Registration standard for scheduled medicine endorsement registered nurses (rural and remote practice). Consultation for this submission highlighted concerns regarding the proposed discontinuation of the RIPEN endorsement standard.
2015 Submissions and Statements
Joint Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Position Statement
The ACMHN has endorsed The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Position Statement.
Joint submission to the Department of Health’s Primary Health Care Advisory Group (September 2015)
ACMHN Letter to Primary Health Care Advisory Group (September 2015)
The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) has made a joint submission to the PHCAG with the Australian College of Nursing (CAN), the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives(CATSINaM), the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) and the Maternal Child and Family Health Nurses Australia (MCaFHNA).
In the letter the ACMHN raises additonal issues related to nursing workforce development and specifically to the mental health nursing workforce that warrant the attention of the PHCAG.
ACMHN submission to The Health Workforce Scholarship Programme Stakeholder Consultation (September 2015)
Without ongoing investment and support around mental health (nursing) development, workforce shortages are likely to become critical and one of the most vulnerable groups in the Australian population will be denied access to quality mental health nursing care. Education, professional development and clinical placements are essential components of efforts to sustain and build the mental health nursing workforce, to cope with the current and projected demand of mental ill-health now, and into the future.
ACMHN Submission to the Inquiry into best practice in chronic disease prevention and management in primary health care
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN), the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM), the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), Maternal Child and Family Health Nurses Australia (MCaFHNA), and the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) provided a joint submission to the Australian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health’s Inquiry into best practice in chronic disease prevention and management in primary health care.
ACMHN Submission on the Australian Mental Health Care Classification (Public consultation paper 1) (February 2015)
Developing a national mental health classification is important to the future performance and funding of mental health services in Australia. In an environment where there is increasing demands on Australian's health services, and pressure of Governments budgets, the Australian Mental Health Care Classification (AMHCC) can help ensure services are provided efficiently and effectively.
ACMHN Feedback on the NSW Health Policy – Suicidal people – Clinical Assessment and Management by Mental Health Services (February 2015)
The ACMHN welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft NSW Health policy Suicidal People – Clinical Assessment and Management by Mental Health Services. The ACMHN asked a number of our members who had self identified as having an interest in the area of suicidality to review the draft policy and provide feedback.
2014 Submissions
Submission to the National Mental Health Commission's Review of Mental Health Services and Programmes
Mental health nurses play a pivotal role in the provision of mental health care and, as such, are well placed to comment on gaps in access to services, workforce needs and the inability of mental health nurses to work to their full scope of practice.
October 2014
Joint submission to the Senate Select Committee on Health Inquiry into Health Policy, Administration and Expenditureto the Senate Select Committee on Health Inquiry into Health Policy, Administration and Expenditure
This submission to the Select Committee on Health's Inquiry on Health Policy, Administration and Expenditure was jointly prepared by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), the Australian College of Midwives (ACM), the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM), and CRANAplus.
2013 Submissions
ACMHN Submission to the Horvath Review of Medicare Locals
The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses has a strong interest in the review of Medicare Locals. Mental health nurses work within primary care settings in a variety of ways, as employees and contractors of Medicare Locals, as private practitioners, and as members of the general practice team. Mental health nurses who manage acute and community mental health services are also impacted by changes in primary health care.
December 2013
$2000 cap on tax deductions for education expenses
The ACMHN responded to the Government's proposal to introduce a $2,000 cap on tax deductions for education expenses with a submission highlighting the impact on individual nurses, particularly those specialising in an area of practice and the capacity of the profession as a whole.
July 2013
ACMHN Submission to Health Workforce Australia: Nursing Workforce Retention and Productivity Consultation Paper March 2013
HWA Australia consulted the nursing sector to identify the priority issues that need to be addressed in seeking to further improve nurse retention and productivity. The ACMHN made a submission emphasised that the nursing profession's contribution and role in health care must be better understood and more visible within the health sector and the Australian community more generally.
May 2013
Pre-Budget Submission 2013-2014
February 2013
2012 Submissions
ACMHN submission on Australian Safety and Quality Goals for Health Care Consultation Paper
February 2012
10 Year Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform Draft, providing feedback on the Roadmap Consultation Draft January 2012
2011 Submissions
Mental Health Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, providing feedback on the consultation draft
September 2011
Tasmanian Mental Health Bill 2011 Exposure Draft, responding to the Tasmanian Draft Mental Health Bill
September 2011
Commonwealth Funding and Administration of Mental Health Services, submission to Senate Community Affairs Committees Inquiry
August 2011
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), consultation on a draft policy for re-entry to practice for nurses and midwives'
August 2011
National Clinical Supervision Support Framework, responding to the draft Framework
May 2011
Administration of health practitioner registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), submission to Senate Inquiry
April 2011
ATAPS Flexible Care Packages Consultation, relating to the consultation process and discussion paper outlining that Flexible Care Packages are an attempt to address some of the primary needs identified by the mental health sector February 2011
Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2010, responding to the Victorian Draft Mental Health Bill and following on from the ACMHN Victorian Branch written response to the review of the Mental Health Act 1986 Consultation Paper
February 2011
Budget Submission 2011-2012 setting out the College's views on the priorities for the 2011-2012 Federal Budget
January 2011
2010 Submissions
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English Language Standard for nurses, responding to the consultation process reviewing the English language standard nurses must meet to become registered
December 2010
Medicare Locals Governance and Functions responding to a discussion paper on the governance arrangements and proposed functions for Medicare Locals
November 2010
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Nurse Practitioner Endorsement, responding to the draft Nurse Practitioner Endorsement standard and requirements
November 2010