Neami - Inclusion

Access to Services
Neami seeks to include in its services, groups in the community that are traditionally underrepresented in mental health services. The main groups in this category are people from other cultures (CALD) and Indigenous Australians. Neami services have developed policies and practices that increase the participation of consumers from these groups.

Access for People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Origin

Neami recognises that in each service area (Vic, NSW and SA) there are large populations of people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.

Neami recognises and supports community control of resources and services targeting people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origins and will work in close collaboration with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Aboriginal Health Services and other appropriate networks and organisations.

Neami believes that people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origins have the right to accessible and appropriate generic and mainstream specialist mental health services, including psychiatric disability and rehabilitation support services.

Neami will make our services more appropriate and accessible by:

Proactively building relationships with Indigenous individuals, groups and services.
Seeking advice and learning from those individuals, groups and services.
Translating that learning to practical strategies, which will change and improve current service options.
Develop new service options.
Implement training in Culturally Sensitive Practice for all staff.
Seek a representative of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to join the Board of Directors .

Access for People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds

Neami recognises that it's area of service delivery in NSW, Vic and SA includes large populations of people of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Further Neami believes people of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds have the right to accessible and appropriate generic and mainstream specialist mental health services, including the psychiatric disability and rehabilitation support services.

Neami's principles support the active inclusion of these people in our service provision and are as follows:

Access
Services will be available to everyone.
Equity
Services will be developed and delivered, based on fair treatment to all.
Communication
Many strategies will be used to inform people about services and how they can obtain them.
Responsiveness
Services will be sensitive to the needs and requirements of CALD service users.
Accountability
Reporting mechanisms will be in place, which ensure Neami meets access and equity objectives for people from CALD backgrounds.

Neami will make services more appropriate and accessible by:

Proactively building relationships with ethnic communities by supporting local CALD Access Committees.
Develop new service options including Carers Initiatives, which involves people from CALD backgrounds.
Implement training in Culturally Sensitive Practice for all staff.
Utilising CALD background status as priority criteria for entrance to Neami services.