1/408 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Email: administration@mhcsa.org.au
Ph: 8212 8873 Fax: 8212 8874
NEW MENTAL HEALTH LAWS AND COMMUNITY VISITORS
‘MOST WELCOME’ SAY MENTAL HEATH COALITION
MEDIA RELEASE
June 5th 2009
The Mental Health Coalition of SA (MHCSA) has warmly welcomed the passage of the
Mental Health Bill 2008 through State Parliament.
MHCSA Executive Director Geoff Harris stated: “This brings us another step closer to
finally seeing a vast improvement to our mental health laws. The proposed new focus on
consumers and carers and the recognition of the importance of community and recovery
in a person’s well being is much needed and long awaited.
“These new laws will bring South Australian mental health into the 21st Century by
bringing significant and positive changes to our social and health policy that reflect
widely-held community expectations.”
Mr Harris was also supportive of the successful Upper House amendment to introduce a
Community Visitor’s Scheme: “All other States and Territories currently have Community
or Official Visitors programs. Community Visitors Schemes strengthen consumer
participation and ensure services are responsive and accountable.
“The addition of a Community Visitors Scheme will improve human rights in South
Australia and many in the mental health community sector have seen this as a much
needed improvement to the overall Mental Health system.
“The MHCSA has long advocated for a Community Visitors Scheme and is very pleased
that it has now been included in the legislation by the Upper House, we hope that the
Bill will now be swiftly progressed by the Government into life-changing law,” he
concluded.
For comment contact MHCSA Executive Director
Mr Geoff Harris on 0401 099 555
THE MHCSA has long advocated for an Independent or Community Visitor Scheme, most
recently in our current policy document Mental Health – Let’s Make It Work Better (available
at www.mhcsa.org.au). A Mental Health Visitors Scheme was also a key recommendation of
the Governments’ own Review of Mental Health legislation in South Australia. in the Bidmeade
Report.
NEWS 
