Access to good quality healthcare services is important to everyone. As the oldest electorate in South Australia, Mayo also has additional healthcare needs. Although healthcare is often a State Government issue, I have worked hard to deliver on better services for our community.
This means:
- Better access to hospital and after-hours healthcare
- Improved access and quality of aged care services
- More mental health services located within the electorate
- Greater funding for drug rehabilitation and addiction specialist support services
- Better support for disabled Australians
- Better Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) coverage for critical medications
Some of the projects I am currently fighting for include renal dialysis services at Mount Barker, a Medicare Service Centre at Victor Harbor, a Medicare-rebateable MRI service in Victor Harbor, and transparency for aged care staffing ratios.
Hospital and after hours healthcare
One of my key 2016 election campaign promises was to deliver on a 24 doctor service for Mount Barker. Mount Barker is South Australia’s fastest growing regional town, and it was desperately in need of after-hours access to healthcare. I am so very proud that the service has already saved many lives!
Results:
- I worked with the community to lobby the State Government for the first ever 24 hour doctor service at Mount Barker Hospital
- I lobbied for a Medicare-rebatable MRI licence for Mount Barker and Victor Harbor; thus far, my efforts for Mount Barker have been successful
- I delivered better public transport access for South Coast residents to major hospitals in Adelaide
- I and my colleagues obtained $68m to fund the Proton Therapy Unit in South Australia. This Unit will provide treatment for people with advanced cancer through the use of highly targeted, high-energy proton beams
Speeches in Parliament:
Media Releases:
- Rebekha opens bulk-billing MRI in Mount Barker (15 November 2018)
- MP welcomes bulk-billing MRI for Mount Barker (27 September 2018)
- $2.6M to run MRI licences in Mayo (19 September 2018)
- Sharkie and Senators to negotiate Medicare Centre and MRI services (4 June 2018)
- Sharkie and SA-BEST join forces to fight for renal dialysis for Mount Barker (4 June 2018)
- Roster reassurance for 24-hour doctor service (22 August 2017)
- $6.7 million investment in emergency services at Mount Barker Hospital (6 June 2017)
- Fast facts about new emergency care services (6 June 2017)
- MP steps up campaign for 24-hour doctor (9 January 2017)
- Campaign for overnight doctor (14 November 2016)
I have also asked Questions in Writing on the following topics:
- Efficacy of Rural Health Bonded Scholarships
- Review funding categorisation for Gumeracha Hospital
Aged care
Ageing with dignity is an important concern for all older Australians. Our electorate is the oldest in South Australia, and services need to be available that allow older Australians to remain independent as long as possible in their own homes. However, if an older Australian moves into an aged care residential facility, their care needs to be tailored to their individual needs and be the highest possible standard.
Results:
- Introduced a Private Member's Bill that would require residential aged care providers to publish their staffing ratios; the Bill has now been referred for consideration to a Parliamentary Inquiry
- Hosted the Mayo Aged Care Forum in McCracken / Victor Harbor
- Visit to the electorate by the Federal Minister for Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt MP
- Successfully lobbied the Federal Government for more home care packages, with 14,000 high level home care packages announced in the 2018 Budget
- Lobbied the Federal Government for more residential aged care places in the electorate
- Lobbied both State and Federal Governments to commit to the construction of an aged care facility to replace Kalimna in Strathalbyn
Speeches in Parliament:
- Health and Ageing Committee Report (24 October 2018)
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018
- Aged Care Amendment (Staffing Ratio Disclosure) Bill 2018 [Private Member's Bill] (20 August 2018)
- Home care packages backlog (13 August 2018)
- Home care packages (28 February 2018)
- Aged care and Kalimna (8 February 2018)
- My Aged Care (and Headspace) (18 October 2016)
Media Releases:
- Aged Care Bill gets tick of approval (11 December 2018)
- Urgent staffing reforms must go ahead (17 September 2018)
- Public to have say on Aged Care Bill (13 September 2018)
- Challenges facing the ageing raised at forum (30 August 2018)
- Aged Care Bill puts staffing on the record (20 August 2018)
- New laws to make age care staff ratios black and white (22 June 2018)
- Extra home care packages a win for aged care sector (8 May 2018)
- MP to host Minister for aged care public forum (5 April 2018)
I have also asked Questions in Writing on the following topics:
- National priority queue for home care packages
Mental health services
I am concerned at the lack of mental health services in our regional towns and centres, especially for younger Australians.
I have been advocating strongly for more mental health services across the electorate, such as those provided by organisations like Headspace.
I am also greatly troubled by the withdrawal of Federal funding for mental health services. Despite the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), there is a widening ‘mental health services gap’ which is not being fully met by State and Federal Governments.
Results:
- Petitioned the Government for a Headspace service in Mayo
- The launch of a Headspace outreach service in Mount Barker
- Supported the launch of the Moving A Head service for Mount Barker and the Adelaide Hills
- Successful lobbying for additional budget funding for mental health services in the 2017 and 2018 Budgets
Speeches and Questions in Parliament:
- Question to the Minister for Health - Headspace services in Mayo (25 October 2018)
- Youth mental health services (10 September 2018)
- Headspace (8 February 2018)
- Mental health (16 October 2017)
- Question to the Minister for Health – NDIS and the defunding of mental health services (25 May 2017)
- Headspace (and My Aged Care) (18 October 2016)
Media Releases:
- 'headspace' funding boost a win for Mayo youth (16 December 2018)
- 'headspace' expansion on track for Mayo (25 October 2018)
- Rebekha launches campaign to bring 'headspace' youth mental health service to the south coast (9 June 2018)
- New mental health service launched in Mayo (19 October 2017)
I have also asked Questions in Writing on the following topics:
- Wellbeing of Young Australians Report – Mental health
Drug rehabilitation
Alcohol and drug abuse, especially methamphetamine (ice), are growing public health problems in segments of our community, especially in our more remote regions and towns. Drug addiction places great strain upon families, social and public health services, and upon law and order. Prevention and early intervention are critical to helping people get their lives back on track, and to reduce the burden on our communities and upon our Government budgets.
Federal Governments have systematically underfunded drug rehabilitation services, and so I have sought additional funding for specialist rehabilitation facilities in South Australia and for support in addiction medicine to medical practitioners in regional Australia.
Results:
- $20 million over 3 years for specialist methamphetamine rehabilitation facilities in SA, including a facility earmarked for the Fleurieu Peninsula
- $20 million over 3 years for drug addiction training for GPs and allied health practitioners in regional Australia
Media Releases:
- Member for Mayo welcomes $20 million in rehab funding for SA (23 November 2018)
- Drug rehab clinic for Fleurieu announced in budget (8 May 2018)
- NXT secures much-needed boost for drug rehabilitation programs (22 March 2018)
Better support for disabled Australians
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a big and complicated reform with widespread political support. However, much of the rollout of the NDIS has been plagued with problems. My focus has been upon the needs of individual constituents who approach me for assistance, but also upon improving the flexibility and responsiveness of the NDIS to the needs of disabled Australians in Mayo.
Another issue I am particularly passionate about is trying to close the gaps opening up in the availability of mental health services available in our community. State and Federal Governments have already started withdrawing dedicated funding to mental health services in the mistaken belief that the NDIS is the new and simple answer to all the mental health challenges facing our community.
Speeches and Questions in Parliament:
- NDIS concerns - Sam Hensman (15 October 2018)
- Question to the Minister for Health – NDIS and the defunding of mental health services (25 May 2017)
I have also asked Questions in Writing on the following topics:
- NDIA/NDIS complaints management and service standards
- Adelaide airport and disability
Other Health speeches and questions
Results:
- Successfully lobbied for the inclusion of Cystic Fibrosis drug 'Orkambi' on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule
Media Releases:
- Orkambi offers new hope for Cycstic Fibrosis sufferers (22 August 2018)
- MPs high tea raises money for women's health (16 December 2016)
Speeches and Questions in Parliament:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month (15 October 2018)
- My Health Records Amendment (Strengthening Privacy) Bill 2018 (18 September 2018)
- Juvenile diabetes (11 September 2018)
- Health Insurance Amendment (National Rural Health Commissioner) Bill 2017 (20 March 2017)
- Question to the Minister for Health – Child Dental Benefits Schedule (18 October 2016)
I have also asked Questions in Writing on the following topics:
- Healthcare card programs
- Public funding for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- National Diabetes Scheme subsidy for Flash Glucose monitoring
- Newborn screening of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- PBS listing of cystic fibrosis drug ‘Orkambi’
- Vitamin B12
- Hopper ant vaccines