This paper summarises the commitments made by governments on the investment in sub-acute care, the evidence to support various models of sub-acute care and the key issues relating to these commitments in relation to the Australian mental health sector.

In 2010, all states and territories (except WA ) supported the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement. The agreement has three primary objectives – to reform the health and hospital system, change the way health services are delivered, and provide better care and access to services. This paper investigates the commitments made in relation to Medicare Locals as they pertain to the mental health sector.

This paper highlights the priority areas for strategic investment and funding support from the Commonwealth Government in the 2011-12 Budget outside of the proposed National Health and Hospitals Network reforms.

The MHCA commends the Therapeutic Goods Administration for examining methods to improve transparency of regulatory processes and looks forward to further work in this area. The TGA needs to be open to the input of stakeholders, particularly consumers and carers, to ensure it is catering to their information needs. Mechanisms for stakeholder input beyond invitations to respond to a review should be examined.