Coronavirus Australia: $1.1 billion mental health, domestic violence package

The government has unveiled a multi-billion dollar scheme that changes the way our health system works.

The federal government has unveiled a $1.1 billion package designed to help Medicare, mental health services and family violence services deal with increased demand due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Health Minister Greg Hunt announced just minutes ago the “radical” new way health services will be delivered in Australia.

“That brings me to telehealth,” Minister Hunt said on live TV this morning.

“Telehealth is vital for mental health and for physical health.

“What we are doing now is a radical transformation in the way we deliver our health services.

“As of tomorrow, we will have universal telehealth available in Australia.

“Everybody who is self isolating or is under formal isolation or formal quarantine, that means you can bring your doctor, whether it is your GP, your specialist, your mental health psychiatrist or psychologist, your allied help practitioner or your nurse practitioner, all of these are available.”

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Home isolation has led to increased cases of domestic violence.

The bulk of the $1.1 billion — $669 million — will go towards expanding Medicare subsidies for telehealth services, which allow GPs and other health professionals to consult with patients over video conferencing rather than face-to-face.

However, Mr Hunt assured Australians that health professionals will still be providing face-to-face consultations.

“Obviously where physical examinations are required such as surgical or physical procedures, we may still have to occur face-to-face,” Mr Hunt said.

“But everything which can be done by Tele will be done by tele health, and ... that means psychological (and) psychiatric services.”

The measures are expected to remain in place until at least the end of September, when they will be reviewed.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt during a press conference at Parliament House on March 24, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Mental health organisation Beyond Blue will create a coronavirus wellbeing helpline, with $10 million in funding.

Another $14 million will go to existing mental health services, including Lifeline and Kids Helpline.

“Our vulnerable Australians will receive a significant package of $45 million and that includes $10 million to support older Australians, $3 million specifically for our health workers because the pressures they are under are real,” Mr Hunt said.

“These are our heroes, the people putting themselves out there to protect Australia.

“$7 million for Headspace for young Australians (and) an additional $28 million to support and provide psychosocial support going forward.”

Mr Morrison has put aside $74 million for mental health services which are coming under strain during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Australians, even though we have to be isolated, shouldn’t have to go through this alone,” Mr Morrison said.

“We are focused on saving lives and saving livelihoods and this new support package will provide much-needed care and help to so many Australians facing hardship at no fault of their own.”

With Australians told to stay inside to slow the spread of coronavirus, mental health experts fear there will be an increase in depression and anxiety.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to unveil a new package to help vulnerable Australians. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

The package comes amid revelations that perpetrators are using the COVID-19 virus as a form of abuse, telling their partner they have the virus and therefore they can't leave the house.

Liz Thomas, the chief executive of the social services organisation Wayss, told the ABC her service had come across cases in the last week where men used the fear of the coronavirus to threaten their partners.

"It's a real a form of abuse we have not experienced before," she said.

There are concerns that self-isolation restrictions could make it harder for women and children in danger to seek help, and so part of the package will go towards family violence services.

In recent weeks domestic violence services in Australia have reported an increase in incidents and Google has reported its highest number of searches for local domestic violence services in five years.

Counselling services for family violence such as 1800 Respect will receive $150 million as part of the new package.

A new national campaign to promote family violence services during the COVID-19 outbreak will also be funded.

Liz Thomas, the chief executive of the social services organisation Wayss, has come across cases in the last week where men are using the fear of the coronavirus to threaten their partners.

"Perpetrators have actually used COVID-19 as a form of abuse, telling their partner that they have the virus therefore they can't leave the house,” she told the ABC.

"Inviting people into the house where the woman is self-isolating, saying that the visitor has COVID-19 and he's going to infect them.

"So it's a real a form of abuse we have not experienced before."

Ms Thomas said the number of requests from police for her organisation's services had increased from an average of 120 per week to 209 in the past seven days.

"People who were vulnerable are now more vulnerable than ever," she said.

Australia is not alone in its fears of increased incidents of domestic violence. This picture was taken on March 22, 2020, showing the facade of a building in Dortmund, western Germany. From Berlin to Paris, Madrid, Rome and Bratislava, associations that help victims of domestic violence have been sounding the alarm after Europe overtook China to become the epicentre of the pandemic. Picture: Ina Fassbender/AFP

The government’s funding commitment also includes $200 million for charities that provide emergency relief for households.

It will go to services and organisations that help households pay bills and buy food, clothing and petrol.

Money will also go to the National Debt Helpline and Financial Counselling Australia to train new financial counsellors, potentially providing hundreds of new jobs.

If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp

If you are in a domestic violence situation, please call the national hotline on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au.

If you need immediate help call triple-0.