Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The severe behaviour response teams will, as I mentioned, be comprised of clinical experts trained to work with people who exhibit severe behaviours. They will be a mobile workforce. The teams will commence operations nationally later this year following a competitive tender process. The establishment of these response teams is on a specific recommendation made by the sector to the government through the ministerial dementia forum, which I convened in September last year. That forum brought together more than 60 stakeholders and experts to advise the government on how to encourage better practice dementia care and how to better support people who demonstrate these severe behaviours. The intent of these response teams will be that providers can get support within 24 to 48 hours, and I also think it is very important that we make sure these response teams also work for regional Australia.