Pictured: Outgoing part-time Commissioner, John Mannion
The Malinauskas Labor Government will restore a full-time Mental Health Commissioner in South Australia for the first time in three years.
In 2019, the full-time Commissioner role which was last held by Chris Burns, was abolished and split into three part-time roles.
The decision to reinstate a full-time Commissioner is in line with a recommendation from outgoing part-time Commissioner John Mannion, who is leaving the post at the end of the year.
Mr Mannion is taking on a new full-time role as chief executive of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, where he has been a part-time executive director while working as a Mental Health Commissioner.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton has accepted and is acting on Mr Mannion’s recommendation to reintroduce a full-time Commissioner role as well as consider the role and function of the Commissioner.
“I would like to thank Mr Mannion for all his efforts and for dedicating his time to the role. I appreciate his recommendations for future improvement and look forward to working with him in the future,” Minister Picton said.
“We are determined to listen to the experts in the mental health space – both those who have lived experience and service delivery – and act on their advice in order to significantly improve the function of the Mental Health Commissioner role and its place in the broader mental health system in South Australia.
“The SALRI review will provide an opportunity to further explore the Commissioners’ roles and reconsider the legal and administrative framework in place in order to support the intended function of the Mental Health Commission.”
The remaining two part-time Commissioners – Heather Nowak and David Kelly – will have their appointments extended until 31 March.
Early next year a process will be undertaken to advertise for the new full-time Commissioner role – as well as consider recommendations on the functions of the role from the South Australian Law Reform Institute’s (SALRI) statutory review of the Mental Health Act.
One element to be considered will be whether to create an advisory group to the Commissioner to ensure different perspectives are heard.
The move comes as record amounts of funding are invested into mental health including $182 million for 98 new mental health beds across the system as well as the funding of in-home treatment of mental health patients to the equivalent of 20 more beds.
The Queen Elizabeth, Modbury and Noarlunga hospitals will each get 24 extra mental health beds, while six new beds will open at Mount Gambier Hospital, doubling its existing ward.
For more information, visit the SA Mental Health Commission website.
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