In August 2014, the new MHCSS (Mental Health Community Support Services) system commenced in Victoria. This presentation will outline some of the benefits and learnings of the new centralised intake assessment function.
Navigating and accessing services in the previous system was identified by clients, carers and service providers as being extremely difficult. Some of the features of the new system have included; a single point of entry with an equitable prioritisation process. This has resulted in consumers only having to apply to the intake service rather than having to identify and apply to numerous services. Furthermore, there is now also a transparent and standardised assessment process undertaken by all three intake assessment providers across the state. The function also manages a facilitated referral process and a ‘needs register’ for clients waiting for service.
The service is primarily phone based with face to face assessments offered where required. This has proven to be especially important for people who do not speak English and require an interpreter, as one example.
A further benefit has been the development of closer partnerships within the sector. Providers in each catchment are now more aware of the total client demand and the need to work collaboratively in meeting these needs.

There is concern in Australia about problems with equity of mental health care. We examined adult utilisation of mental health services subsidised by Medicare and estimates of need for mental health care. Consumer attributes such as age, gender and location of residence were also examined.
National Medicare data 2007/11 involved 25,146,558 individual records of consumer postcodes with associated services. The National Health Survey (NHS 2011/12) provided estimates of need-for-care based on Kessler 10 scores. We calculated service utilisation rates followed by assessment of inequity.
Apart from primary care medical usage, higher socio-economic disadvantage in areas was typically associated with lower usage; e.g. clinical psychologist consultation was 68, 40 and 23 (per 1000 population) in the highest, middle and lowest advantaged quintiles respectively; non-Better Access psychiatry items was 117, 55, 45 (per 1000 population) in the highest, middle and lowest advantaged quintiles respectively. Preliminary findings using the NHS suggests that the use of MBS-funded mental health care - for conditions with similar distress levels - was up to six times greater in more advantaged areas compared with more disadvantaged areas
Our results highlight important socio-economic and geographical disparities associated with utilisation of mental health services. Disadvantaged areas are still missing out.

It is only in recent years that the notion of governance within the NGO sector has received considerable attention. From volunteers ‘doing their bit’ for the community, Board Members are expected to possess, call on and exercise considerable experience and a broad range of skills. Not only have compliance and accountability demands increased, but there has also been considerable shifting of risk away from central government to local communities (Buchanan and Pilgrim, 2004). Governance within a non government organisational structure has become just as critical, given expectations that NGOs are responding to the [sometimes competing] needs of stakeholders, and fulfilling their missions and objectives.
Non government organisations have needed to grapple with these challenges, converting them from abstract concepts into strategic imperatives to be prioritised.
• How do / should we think about, and fulfil expectations of accountability and governance?
• How do we manage the tension between the theory of governance and day to day realities?
• How do we structure the role of Governance from merely ensuring compliance to one of adding value
This paper will discuss and share experiences of the responsibilities of governance. WALSH Trust’s journey over the last 20 years has not always been linear.