System failed to cope during pandemic: auditor general

The start of the pandemic in 2020 exposed more cracks in Tasmania’s mental health system, according to the auditor general.

EXISTING cracks in Tasmania’s mental health system deepened during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tasmania’s Auditor General has found as he issued four recommendations.

Rod Whitehead’s report to parliament on the government’s Covid-19 response to social impacts, mental health and digital inclusion assess is the second of two which examined how effective the arrangements put in place to identify and address the high priority social impacts of the pandemic were.

Tasmanian Auditor General Rod Whitehead speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Thursday November 19, 2020.

They included social effects resulting from both the virus and suppression measures and Mr Whitehead said these continued.

“Businesses are still struggling, many young people face an uncertain future, and the mental health impact on some people may last for many years,” he said.

“There were underlying systemic issues relating to both the mental health support provided within the state and the extent of digital exclusion among the population, which were exacerbated by the pandemic and still needs to be addressed in the long term.”

Mr Whitehead ultimately concluded the government’s allocation and monitoring of resources to address the high priority social impacts of mental health and digital inclusion was effective.

He also praised the government for using existing relationships and agreements with community services providers, to distribute Covid-19 funding quickly and efficiently.

But he found the pandemic exacerbated “significant deficiencies” in Tasmania’s mental health system including siloed and fragmented services, lack of a centralised point of access, and a shortage of specialist staff.

“Community mental health providers experienced increased demand and clients presenting with increased complexity, with which they could not cope,” Mr Whitehead said.

“Providers also needed time to adjust to delivering services digitally.”

Providing digital services did not benefit all Tasmanians equally, however.

Mr Whitehead said those who could not afford technology, use it or lived in areas with poor connectivity did not benefit.

“The barriers faced by people who were digitally excluded were not addressed well by the Government at a strategic level,” he found.

Mr Whitehead made four recommendations.

He recommended the government identify which agency would be responsible for coordinating and managing services to support people who are digitally excluded in another emergency.

And that a clear governance framework be established for crossagency oversight for low intensity mental health support to ensure it was seamless for users.

Department of Health Secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said she was pleased Mr Whitehead’s findings and conclusion reflected the tireless work done in response to Covid-19.

“I recognise the impact the pandemic has had and continues to have on the mental health and wellbeing of Tasmanians,” Ms Morgan-Wicks said.

Head of Department of Health Tasmania Kathrine Morgan-Wicks during the covid update at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

She said she supported the recommendations in principle and would seek to engage with other agencies to consider their implementation.

“I note recommendations two and four have some alignment with the directions of the government’s significant mental health service reforms,” she said.