Publications

Reflections from the Online HCCA Election Forum with ACT Greens spokesperson Emma Davidson MLA (2024)

9 October 2024

HCCA recently held a series of online forums in preparation for the 2024 ACT Election. In the second forum, ACT Greens Spokesperson, and Minister for Mental Health, Population Health, Community Services, Seniors and Veterans and Corrections and Justice Health, Emma Davidson MLA joined HCCA members to talk about the ACT Green’s policy platform and what they see as priority issues in the ACT health system.

HCCA has developed our own priorities for health for the ACT Election and you can read our statement of priorities on our website (https://www.hcca.org.au/publication/hcca-statement-of-priorities-for-the-2024-act-election/)

HCCA members and guests submitted questions they have about health issues and services in the ACT to be asked during the event.

ACT Greens Health Priorities

Ms Davidson opened the session with a declaration of the Green’s commitment to universal health care and access to public health care with no out-of-pocket costs. She spoke about the need to address the fragmentation between the private, public, state/territory, and federal health systems to create a more integrated and effective system.

The Minister acknowledged that poor access to primary care intensifies health issues, and mental and general health facilities should be accessible in many locations across Canberra. These services should also address the needs of the whole person and social determinants of health. This requires a fundamental shift in funding to support care that addresses the full spectrum of individual needs. Primary care and early intervention must be prioritised to maintain ongoing care and improve long-term health outcomes.

The Minister also spoke about:

the importance of the community sector and acknowledged that many of these organisations are under-resourced and struggling to meet the growing demand for services.

ensuring free and quality healthcare is crucial to respond to recent crises, including climate events, cost of living pressures, and public health emergencies.

the need for health care to cater to diverse populations, including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTI communities, multicultural groups, and individuals with co-occurring conditions.

Questions from the audience

The questions from the audience focused on a range of issues including preventative health care, timely access to primary and specialist care, measures to improve and support access to care for older people, multicultural communities and people with disabilities, and long-term sustainable support for community organisations in the ACT.

A selection of the audience questions and a summary of Ms. Davidson’s responses are shared below.

Question: What policy are you proposing to reduce specialist doctors and other health professionals’ waiting times, including for private patients?

Answer: The Minister advised there are three key strategies that the Greens advocate to reduce wait times:

Actively advocating for the Commonwealth Government to increase the number of GPs and specialists in Canberra, with initiatives to attract and keep healthcare professionals in the region.

Making better use of GPs for ongoing care. This would include GPs playing a greater role in managing patient care between specialist appointments to help consumers maintain their health while waiting for specialist consultations.

For patients with rare conditions, where specialist care is not available locally, the Greens will continue to support travel and accommodation for patients and their families, ensuring access to the best available care. They will also work to improve care coordination across state lines, making it easier for patients to access necessary services without unnecessary delays. This includes providing supports and accommodation for carers.

Question: What are the Greens proposing to support the health of older people? Part of HCCA election priorities are around improving community-based services to help older people stay out of hospital.

Answer: The Minister advised that there are three key strategies that can have big impacts on the health of older people. They are:

Ensuring access to appropriate, safe and secure housing to support the overall health and wellbeing of older people. Addressing housing issues and providing social support services are essential to reducing hospital re-admissions and helping individuals maintain their health at home.

Improving access to primary care services, ensuring that issues are addressed early, before they require hospital treatment. This includes expanding access to bulk billing clinics and specialists, and ensuring patient-centered, holistic care. The goal is to spend more time with people at an earlier stage to reduce emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

Strengthening social support networks, providing in-home care, and ensuring that older people have access to the resources they need to stay healthy and well in the community. The party also commits to achieving the goals set in the older people’s mental health and wellbeing strategy.

Question: In respect to preventative health care, apart from the Southside Warm Water pool, what programs will you be supporting in either your agreement with Labor, or if not in the agreement, in what form will you support preventative health care?

Answer: The Minister acknowledged that it is challenging to acquire funding to support preventative programs as it is difficult to model and show the impacts of preventative programs. However, the Greens are committed to supporting a range of initiatives that focus on addressing the root causes of poor health and promoting overall wellbeing.

The Greens recognise that health is influenced by factors like secure housing, access to good food, and a connected community. They will invest in stable housing and reducing housing insecurity, and addressing other cost-of-living measures, which can have a direct positive impact on people’s physical and mental health. They also support building community connections to help combat social isolation and improve wellbeing. The party will also invest in tackling climate change, recognizing its impact on public health, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Question: How will the Greens decrease the barriers for neurodivergent people looking for neuro-affirming mental health care and how will you go about attracting more psychiatrists to Canberra so that neurodivergent people aren’t forced to travel or do telehealth to be diagnosed and treated for ADHD.

Answer: The Minister advised that to decrease the barriers neurodivergent people face in accessing neuro-affirming mental health care, they are committed to establishing a service hub or centre that provides advice or supports on ADHD/Autism and neurodivergence. The hub will focus on a strength-based, social model of disability, providing resources on ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions, rather than a medical or deficit-based approach.

To address the long wait times for diagnosis, the aim would be for the hub to provide early intervention therapies and support prior to a formal diagnosis. This will help individuals get the help they need while awaiting assessment. Additionally, the service can support people to access therapies and support services without being required to have a formal diagnosis, if they already understand their needs.

The Greens also aim to work to attract more psychiatrists and allied health professionals to Canberra, ensuring that neurodivergent individuals can access timely care without being forced to travel or rely on telehealth. This includes making assessment, diagnosis, and ongoing therapy more accessible and affordable.

Question: One of HCCA’s priorities is multicultural health policy, as there is a need for more tailored work to ensure these communities can access health services equitably. How would the Greens support public health services to meet the cultural and practical needs of our multicultural communities?

Answer: The Minister advised that the Greens are committed to ensuring public health services meet the cultural and practical needs of our multicultural communities by expanding and improving access to culturally appropriate care. They will build on successful programs, particularly in mental health, that cater to diverse populations and ensure they are both accessible and cost-effective. They also support expanding services like ACT Women’s Health Services, which offer holistic, no-cost care, especially for women from diverse backgrounds. They also intend to work with Capital Health Network to find cost-effective ways for community to access primary care and get the support and help they need.

In addition, they will work to strengthen partnerships with community organisations such as Companion House and mHUB to better understand and address the health needs of multicultural communities and work with them to co-design programs. The Greens will also focus on addressing the social determinants of health, which create significant barriers to care for multicultural communities. Through these efforts, we aim to create a more inclusive, equitable healthcare system.

Question: After experience of barriers to increase funding for community services. Are there plans to increase funding to community organisations for the next round?

Answer: The Minister acknowledged the importance of strengthening the relationship between the ACT Government and the community sector. To address barriers in securing funding, they will provide more support to community organisations in making a strong case for funding, using both qualitative and quantitative data to show the impact of community services, particularly when the benefits extend beyond health, such as in areas like justice, community safety, and housing.

The Greens policies on health are set out on their website https://greens.org.au/act/policies/health