Abstract
Australian Fellows and Trainees may have read in March of the signing of a ground-breaking agreement designed to improve life insurance for Australians with mental health problems. The Mental Health Sector Stakeholders (a group including the College, the Mental Health Council of Australia, beyondblue, the AMA, the RACGP, the ADGP and the Australian Psychological Society) and the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA) have combined forces to ensure that people with mental health problems have the same access to insurance as people with physical health problems. The collaboration has already resulted in the redrafting of two IFSA guidance notes on Claims and Underwriting and it is hoped that many more advances will come through the activities of a joint working group. President-elect, Professor Philip Boyce, represented the College at the signing of the Memorandum.
Back (left to right): Mr David Stokes (APS), Professor Ian Hickie, CEO (beyondblue), Mr Richard Gilbert, CEO (IFSA), Dr Rob Walters, Chair (ADGP), Professor Michael Kidd, President (RACGP). Front (left to right): Prof. Philip Boyce, President (RANZCP), Dr Marli Watt (AMA) Dr Grace Groom (MHCA)
New Year and Australia Day Honours
It was with great delight that we learned of the New Year and Australia Day Honours bestowed upon three of our Fellows and one of our Affiliates in New Zealand. To each of them we send our warmest congratulations and best wishes on these prestigious achievements.
For service to medicine in the field of mental health as a leading clinician, researcher and scientist, and to the development of national and international policy in regard to greater awareness, education and improved treatments.
For service to the mental health of the ageing, particularly through psychiatric research and rehabilitation, and as an executive and consultant on a range of government and professional organizations.
For services to psychiatric medicine and the community.
As a psycho-geriatrician, Dr John Tooth OAM is passionate and committed to the improvement of knowledge, understanding and care of those in the community suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. He was Chairman of the Tasmanian Mental Health Services Commission until it was abolished in 1990 and has been instrumental in the conception, construction and operation of a nonprofit dementia-specific nursing home called ADARDS, which opened in 1991 and for which he received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2001. The ADARDS blueprint has been adopted by other states in Australia and overseas, particularly Japan and Canada. He is presently completing a handbook, in English and Japanese, specific to dementia sufferers.