The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) National Conference in September will include a detailed session on general insurance and mental health.

The conference, entitled Beyond the Promise – a New Resolve, takes place on September 8 at Melbourne Convention Centre, with a welcome dinner the previous evening.

Access to general insurance for mental health sufferers was highlighted by the case of Ella Ingram last year, and will be the subject of the morning breakout session.

Ms Ingram had to cancel a school trip to New York after she developed depression, but her travel insurer QBE declined to pay $5860 because its policy excluded mental illness.

The session will “explore forms of mental illness, the growing concerns from consumer groups and the general public, improving access, and FOS Australia’s approach to insurance disputes where mental health is an issue”.

The panel consists of FOS Lead Ombudsman Insurance John Price, Sue Harrison from Psychiatric Disability Services Victoria, Brenda Staggs from Legal Aid NSW and John Anning, GM Regulatory at the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

The morning plenary session will focus on the conference’s theme.

“We need to ensure current efforts to improve professional and ethical standards across all sectors of the financial industry move beyond promises and into action,” FOS says.

“To do this, the next few years will be a critical time.”

The panel for this session comprises:

• Gerard Brody, CEO, Consumer Action Law Centre
• Vicki Mullen, GM Consumer Relations and Market Development, ICA
• Alan Kirkland, CEO, Choice
• Steven Münchenberg, CEO, Australian Bankers’ Association
• Dante De Gori, CEO, Financial Planning Association
• Sarah Edmondson, Senior Specialist, Strategic Intelligence, Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• June Smith, Lead Ombudsman Investments and Advice, FOS.

Other breakout sessions will include Conciliations for Improved Dispute Resolution, and Life Insurance New Obligations.

FOS expects more than 400 people to attend. Further information and the program can be found here.