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Health - Australian Sex Party Victorian Policy |
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Written by ASP Staff
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Key Policies:
- The implementation of the recommendations of the National Hospitals and Health Reform Commission should not impact on the high standard of community health in Victoria
- A focus on sexual health initiatives that are often overlooked despite growing evidence and community support
- Support the partnership of communities as active in health care with the government, health and research sectors
- Support for evidence-based models of mental health service delivery that are a true integration of all levels of care, with a focus on community development and long term strategies to improve the standard of people living with a mental health and/or substance use disorder
As a party that values human rights, health care is amongst our top priorities. While we are a small party that does not currently have the capacity to effectively make broad, resource intensive commitments on a policy level, we are able to promote, advocate and change to emphasise areas of health we believe need more attention as well as offer feedback regarding the implementation of the sitting government’s health policy.
Preserve the high standard of community health care alongside the implementation of the National Hospitals and Health Reform Commission recommendations.
- Health care is about more than simply the number of hospital beds. A significant proportion of health responses exist in the community, including primary health professionals, recovery and rehabilitation services and community health services. The Australian Sex Party will ensure that the application of resources to the roll-out of Medicare Locals & GP Super Clinics will not undermine the high standards of community based care currently available in Victoria.
- Changes to the current health care system, including funding mechanisms, should cause no disadvantage to current service users of government funded primary and community health services. The Australian Sex Party supports the establishment of a feedback mechanism to allow consumers and their carers to be participants across the spectrum of health reform, including planning, implementation, evaluation and review.
Focus on sexual health initiatives that are often overlooked despite growing evidence and community support.
- The Australian Sex Party will call for more state funded sexual health clinics that are equipped to conduct testing and treatment, outside of the Medicare Benefit Schedule funding system.
- The Australian Sex Party will advocate for the inclusion of a range of sexual health treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including STI vaccines and treatments, medication for sexual dysfunction and medical contraceptives, regardless of age and gender.
- The Australian Sex Party supports the establishment of a specialised clinic that can service the needs of the transgender community.
Supporting a community voice in health care
- The Australian Sex Party believes that populations directly affected by health policy should be active in the planning, implementation and evaluation of such policy.
- The Australian Sex Party advocates for the inclusion of community voices in health care, particularly under-represented or traditionally marginalised groups. That is why we are advocating for the resourcing of an advocacy group for sex workers (see Sex Work Policy). We would also support the resourcing of organisations of other affected communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse populations, Indigenous people, rural communities, elderly populations, the Transgender community and those affected by HIV and age-related illness.
Supporting an integrated, community-consultative approach to mental health service delivery with a focus on early prevention
- The Australian Sex Party supports the ongoing funding and expansion of proven early intervention models of service delivery and community support for young people living with a mental health or substance use concern, such as headspace and ORYGEN Youth Health.
- The Australian Sex Party believes that people with a mental illness or substance use problem are stigmatised because of their illness and that this ostracism leads to a worsening of their symptoms and greatly impacts on their quality of life. We will pursue and support legislation which focuses on education and an increase of capacity for social support services.
- The Australian Sex Party recognises that any successful mental health initiatives will seek to help change community attitudes and better support families and carers of those with a mental health and/or substance use problem.
- The Australian Sex Party believes prevention and early intervention for mental health problems is the most effective approach to limiting the potential for life-long disability related to mental health & drug and alcohol problems. We support development of in-school education & peer support around mental health issues (see Education Policy) and believe funding for secular, school-based counsellors should be increased.
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