Mental health workers from Melbourne’s Austin hospital have rallied against cuts to services. Management at the Austin recently released a plan to close its child mental health inpatient unit – the only one of its type in Victoria – for three weeks over the Christmas period.
Staff object to the proposal, which they say is a cost-cutting measure. “We are furious that they would put staff and patients at risk in order save a bit of money”, one worker told Red Flag at the rally.
Management claim that emergency admissions can be housed in the adolescent unit while the child unit is closed. This is despite a series of serious incidents in the adolescent unit the last time the hospital tried something similar. Management also want the right to transfer staff from the child unit to other units over the closure period. Staff say that, without dedicated training, it’s not safe to transfer workers between units which offer highly specialised treatment.
The 26 November rally involved members of the Health and Community Services Union, which covers both mental health and disability workers in Victoria. Paul Healey, assistant state secretary of the union, addressed the crowd that gathered outside the hospital.
Several delegates from disability services came to support the Austin workers. They noted that the continued running down of public mental health services has led to people with serious mental health needs being left in facilities for the physically disabled, a practice that puts enormous strain on staff and those being cared for.
Mental health workers at the Austin have been taking small steps to build their union over recent years, and just had their biggest ever union meeting, despite management intimidation (including forcing workers to meet in a board room where managers can monitor attendance).
The workers whom Red Flag spoke to were determined to keep campaigning for proper resourcing of mental health services. Their public stand against the Austin’s cuts to a vital service is an important step in this fight.
