The Federal Government has announced a $75 million injection in regional Queensland mental health in the 2011-12 Federal Budget. The funding is aimed at creating 134 new mental health beds in the state’s regional areas.

 

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler explained the $75 million will be used in three projects to improve mental health infrastructure across regional Queensland.

 

The Federal Government will provide Queensland Health with $40 million to construct community care units for mental health patients at Nambour (15 beds); Bundaberg (20 beds); Rockhampton (20 beds); and Toowoomba (24 beds).

Minister Butler explained that an additional $33 million will be provided to Queensland Health for regional acute, sub-acute and extended mental health services.

“A total of 55 new acute and sub-acute mental health beds will be opened in Hervey Bay, Toowoomba, Bundaberg and Maryborough,” Minister Butler said.

 

Far North Queensland will also receive $1.7 million from the Federal Government as part of the $3.09 million Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland. The spending on the Fellowship will allow for the construction and fit out of a redeveloped mental health facility.

 

This $1.7 million contribution is being provided to redevelop a mental health facility that will provide expanded mental health services for high-need patients reaching across Far North Queensland,” Minister Butler said.

 

The $33.1million provided to Queensland Health will provide for:

  • construction of a new 18 bed mental health acute care unit at Hervey Bay Hospital
  • construction of a new 16 bed acute care mental health unit at Mt Lofty Nursing Home at Toowoomba
  • redevelopment of the Bundaberg Hospital mental health unit which will include 4 new acute beds
  • redevelopment of an existing 17 bed older persons acute/sub acute unit at Maryborough Hospital