SEVERE DOMESTIC SQUALOR

In reply to Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (26 June 2013).

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs): Severe domestic squalor affects people from a variety of backgrounds and is often associated with sources of disadvantage including chronic physical and mental health problems, insecure housing and social isolation.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) now recognises compulsive hoarding—which may result in severe domestic squalor—as a distinct neuropsychiatric disorder.

Traditionally, action to address severe domestic squalor was largely limited to cleaning the premises and would only be a temporary fix as the underlying causes of the squalor were not addressed.

Over time, the increasing recognition of individual circumstances—including mental health conditions such as compulsive hoarding now recognised in DSM-5—has prompted the Department for Health and Ageing to develop a more holistic approach that seeks to address the squalor and to support individuals to prevent squalid conditions from recurring.

This new approach is detailed in the guidelines 'A Foot in the Door—Stepping towards Solutions to Resolve Severe Domestic Squalor in South Australia' developed by the Department for Health and Ageing at the request of the former Public and Environmental Health Council in response to the growing number of cases of domestic squalor coming to their attention through clean-up notices served by local councils. Local councils are often the first to intervene in cases of severe domestic squalor through their role as authorities under public health legislation.

The guidelines and accompanying Severe Domestic Squalor Policy under the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 support local councils and other authorities in dealing with the growing and complex problem of severe domestic squalor through the promotion of a risk based and person centred model of coordinated service delivery to address both the squalor itself and support the person who finds themselves living in that situation.

This support includes coordinating health and social services for that person that will assist them with day-to-day living and help prevent the squalor from recurring.

The guidelines are the first of their kind in South Australia and are the product of consultation with government and non-government agencies including Families SA, Office of the Public Advocate, the RSPCA, Metropolitan Fire Service and a number of advocacy groups and local councils.

The guidelines aim to tackle squalor holistically through addressing both the symptom and the cause providing a lasting solution to the problem of severe domestic squalor in South Australia.