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:
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Other Health speeches and questions
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