Shahar Helel 2010

Some of the requirements to become a member of the House of Representatives: Form from the AEC, 50 signatures of people on the electoral role from your division and $500 

FOI’s to be enforced with private and public sector schools, employers, voluntary organisations, financial institutions and the private health sector. 

Breakfast vouchers from a students Centrelink Family Allowance for use at the school canteen or other food outlet

Swinging Your Electorate: If your electorate is underfunded or you cant get to talk to your political representative,  change your vote every three years, marginal seats get more attention

Mental Health Assessment: An exerpt from an email to a friend of mine in the Department of Health

“I would like a firm alteration to the mental health act stipulating
that mental health employees, visiting patients or those who have been
bought to their attention, should quietly inform them of the events
surrounding the visit,clearly notify them of legal rights and any
statutary requirements facing the Department of Mental Health (all in
plain language). Also that full identification details and
information in writing be left with the person being spoken to so
that they can deal with the matter quickly.

I also feel that a “right of reply” should be laid out, i.e. the
ability to supply phone numbers of family members or friends who can
account for their stability, and should an assessment prove
unecessary, a written apology should be supplied by the department
with words such as “innaccurate information supplied to the service”,
and “….apologises for any inconvenience”.

Because of abuse of Mental Health Policy I also feel that details of the complainant should be left with the individual concerned, after all if they’re proved stable there shouldn’t be any problem with them knowing

As the Mental Health will act on the concerns of three major groups in conducting a Mental Health Assessment, being a health service provider, a teacher or a priest with support from two other persons, I would like this criteria readdressed. Primarily because a person who believes in demons, angels, visions and voices that prompt them in spiritual matters hardly seems to be a good assessor of mental health.