Australia-Japan Health and Welfare Cooperation
Japan is at a crucial point in Mental Health Reform as it moves towards a more community based model. An action plan developed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) aims to cut the number of psychiatric inpatients from 330,000 to 260,000.
AAMH has supported Japanese mental health reform since 2004 (read more) by hosting groups of key mental health system stakeholders on fact finding trips to Melbourne. Delegates to these trips have focused on learning how the Australian mental health system utilises partnerships between governments, hospitals, universities and non-government organisations to deliver community mental health services.
In January 2008, A/Prof. Chee Ng was again invited toJapan to undertake a comprehensive review of their community mental health services. A/Prof. Ng's visit was supported by a Japanese Government Fellowship through the MHLW's Health and Labour Science Research Program. His report can be viewed on the the National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry's website in Japanese or English.
Most recently, Dr Takeshima, Director, Department of Mental Health Administration Studies, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan undertook a 3 day visit to Australia organised by AAMH from 21-23 January, 2009. Read more
Japan is also a key participant in the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project.
Read more about the history of AAMH's collaboration with Japan.
A/Prof. Chee Ng (2nd from left) with Dr Tadashi Takeshima (far right), Director, Department of Mental Health Administration Studies, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry and colleagues in Japan
A/Prof. Chee Ng with Dr Takeshi Samejima, President of Samejima Hospital, Head of the Private Hospital Owner's Association of Japan
View a list of the delegation members from Japan that AAMH has hosted.