APY Lands, Mental Health Services

In reply to Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (18 July 2014). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries):

The Australian government, through its Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) Program, has contracted CatholicCare Northern Territory based in Alice Springs to provide this service to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands. I have no information about the status of the funding arrangements as it is commonwealth funding and outside our jurisdiction. I am aware that this service is to be delivered to the community of Amata.

The Mental Health Illness Fellowship of South Australia also receives Australian government PHaMs funding for service delivery into the APY lands but only the Eastern APY Lands; again this is an Australian government funded program.