Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office (MHDAO)
The Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Office (MHDAO) is responsible for developing, managing and coordinating NSW Department of Health policy, strategy and program funding relating to mental health and the prevention and management of alcohol and drug related harm. The office also supports the maintenance of the mental health legislative framework. The work of MHDAO is delivered mainly through the mental health program and the drug & alcohol program, in partnership with Area Health Services, Justice Health, Children's Hospital Westmead, Non Government Organisations, research institutions and other partner departments.
The Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Office has lead agency responsibility for coordinating Whole-of-Government policy development and implementation in the areas of mental health and drug and alcohol, particularly through actions arising from the State Plan S3 and F3 priorities, Drug and Alcohol Summits, Interagency Action Plan on Better Mental Health and New Directions in Mental Health Policy.
The Office is responsible for convening or playing a lead role in inter-jurisdiction and cross-government forums such as the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs and Alcohol, State Reference Group on Diversion, the NSW COAG Mental Health Group, and the Senior Officers' Group on Drugs and Alcohol and Mental Health.
Our structure
The Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Office (MHDAO) was formed in 2006 by the integration of the Centre for Mental Health, the Centre for Drug and Alcohol, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy, and Community Drug Strategies. The establishment of the Office is a response to the increased policy and funding priority given to these areas by the State Government and nationally under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
MHDAO is configured into four business units:
- Drug & Alcohol Clinical Policy
- Government Relations
- Mental Health Clinical Policy
- Programs Development and Coordination
There are three teams hosted within Area Health Services:
- InforMH
- MHDAO Kids
- MHDAO Older People's Policy Unit
NSW State Plan
The NSW State Plan outlines the NSW Government's key objectives and priorities for the future. MHDAO is responsible for leading the implementation of mental health and drug and alcohol priorities which include:
F3. Improved outcomes for mental health
S3. Reducing drug and alcohol use
NSW State Health Plan
The NSW State Health Plan reflects the health priorities in the NSW Government's State Plan with strategies based on evidence of what works and challenging targets set for the future. The State Health Plan identifies mental health and drugs and alcohol as priority areas.
Funding
A New Direction for Mental Health package
2006/07-2010/11, $939m
Third Drug Budget
2007/08-2010/11, $193m
National Mental Health Plan
2003/04-2008/09, $133m
NSW Health Key Strategic Directions
1. Make prevention everybody's business2. Create better experiences for people using health services
3. Strengthen primary health and continuing care in the community
4. Build regional and other partnerships for health
5. Make smart choices about the costs and benefits of health services
6. Build a sustainable health workforce
7. Be ready for new risks and opportunities
