Select Committee On Proposed Sale And Redevelopment Of The Glenside Hospital Site

This speech is in relation to the Select Committee On Proposed Sale And Redevelopment Of The Glenside Hospital Site. The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK expresses that she endorses the interim report of the select committee and encourages other members to do so.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins:

That the interim report of the select committee be noted.

(Continued from 24 September 2008. Page 171.)

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The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (17:22): As a member of the select committee, I rise to endorse this interim report which makes the recommendation that it would be very timely at this point in the reform of our mental health system to establish a mental health centre of excellence. I think this was actually a suggestion by the Hon. Sandra Kanck, who also is a member of this committee. The recommendation emerged during evidence from the discipline of psychiatrists, in particular—the Royal College of Psychiatrists—and also Professor Bob Goldney, a pre-eminent psychiatrist from the University of Adelaide.

Both stakeholders recommended that, because South Australia is the only mainland state that does not have a dedicated mental health research centre, this would be a good opportunity to bring together the range of divergent institutions in South Australia, including mental health nursing, psychiatry, psychology and the universities, to provide that critical mass.

The committee heard evidence that the data gathered within the mental health system is often not collated in any meaningful way, so it is difficult to detect trends. Given the importance of an evidence base to guide the policymakers of this state regarding our recommendations in parliament, we agreed that this issue was of such importance that we should make this recommendation. So, with those brief words, I endorse the interim report of the select committee and encourage other members to do so.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.M. Gazzola.