Hon. Linda Savage questions the delay in releasing the WA mental health policy and plan, promised since 2010. Hon. Helen Morton assures its imminent release, highlighting extensive consultation and a contemporary approach.

AnsweredQoN 774Legislative Council
Asked
20 September 2011
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

MENTAL HEALTH — POLICY AND PLAN
I refer to answer to question without notice 755 of 2010 in which the minister replied, in part — The final WA mental health policy and plan that will outline the state government’s policy for mental health and provide a blueprint for mental health priorities and reform in WA over the next decade is planned for release at the end of 2010. I refer also to the answer to question without notice 1008, in which the minister said that this policy and plan would be released in the early months of 2010. When will the government release its mental health policy and plan that will outline the state government’s policy for mental health and provide a blueprint for mental health priorities and reform in Western Australia over the next decade? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I am really pleased to advise that the mental health strategy will be released very shortly. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : After three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : It follows a massive amount of consultation with consumers, carers, industry and government agencies. Of course, since taking on the role of minister I have also wanted to have a fair bit of input into the strategy. This strategy will set the direction for mental health reform and build a contemporary mental health system. It will give direction through quite a different approach to mental health services than has been considered in the past. I believe that when it is released—I say again it will be released very shortly—people will see quite a different and contemporary approach to mental health service delivery in Western Australia. The number of mental health reforms that have already commenced are included in the strategy. They include investments that have been made by the government in the 2011–12 budget process, and those that are already underway, with a very strong focus on collaborative partnerships and person-centred services. I implore the member to be patient for a bit longer. To get this strategy into the framework that we really want, it has needed some additional work over the past few months. But I can assure Hon Linda Savage that its release is extremely close.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I am really pleased to advise that the mental health strategy will be released very shortly. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : After three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : It follows a massive amount of consultation with consumers, carers, industry and government agencies. Of course, since taking on the role of minister I have also wanted to have a fair bit of input into the strategy. This strategy will set the direction for mental health reform and build a contemporary mental health system. It will give direction through quite a different approach to mental health services than has been considered in the past. I believe that when it is released—I say again it will be released very shortly—people will see quite a different and contemporary approach to mental health service delivery in Western Australia. The number of mental health reforms that have already commenced are included in the strategy. They include investments that have been made by the government in the 2011–12 budget process, and those that are already underway, with a very strong focus on collaborative partnerships and person-centred services. I implore the member to be patient for a bit longer. To get this strategy into the framework that we really want, it has needed some additional work over the past few months. But I can assure Hon Linda Savage that its release is extremely close.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I am really pleased to advise that the mental health strategy will be released very shortly. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : After three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : It follows a massive amount of consultation with consumers, carers, industry and government agencies. Of course, since taking on the role of minister I have also wanted to have a fair bit of input into the strategy. This strategy will set the direction for mental health reform and build a contemporary mental health system. It will give direction through quite a different approach to mental health services than has been considered in the past. I believe that when it is released—I say again it will be released very shortly—people will see quite a different and contemporary approach to mental health service delivery in Western Australia. The number of mental health reforms that have already commenced are included in the strategy. They include investments that have been made by the government in the 2011–12 budget process, and those that are already underway, with a very strong focus on collaborative partnerships and person-centred services. I implore the member to be patient for a bit longer. To get this strategy into the framework that we really want, it has needed some additional work over the past few months. But I can assure Hon Linda Savage that its release is extremely close.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : After three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : It follows a massive amount of consultation with consumers, carers, industry and government agencies. Of course, since taking on the role of minister I have also wanted to have a fair bit of input into the strategy. This strategy will set the direction for mental health reform and build a contemporary mental health system. It will give direction through quite a different approach to mental health services than has been considered in the past. I believe that when it is released—I say again it will be released very shortly—people will see quite a different and contemporary approach to mental health service delivery in Western Australia. The number of mental health reforms that have already commenced are included in the strategy. They include investments that have been made by the government in the 2011–12 budget process, and those that are already underway, with a very strong focus on collaborative partnerships and person-centred services. I implore the member to be patient for a bit longer. To get this strategy into the framework that we really want, it has needed some additional work over the past few months. But I can assure Hon Linda Savage that its release is extremely close.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It follows a massive amount of consultation with consumers, carers, industry and government agencies. Of course, since taking on the role of minister I have also wanted to have a fair bit of input into the strategy. This strategy will set the direction for mental health reform and build a contemporary mental health system. It will give direction through quite a different approach to mental health services than has been considered in the past. I believe that when it is released—I say again it will be released very shortly—people will see quite a different and contemporary approach to mental health service delivery in Western Australia. The number of mental health reforms that have already commenced are included in the strategy. They include investments that have been made by the government in the 2011–12 budget process, and those that are already underway, with a very strong focus on collaborative partnerships and person-centred services. I implore the member to be patient for a bit longer. To get this strategy into the framework that we really want, it has needed some additional work over the past few months. But I can assure Hon Linda Savage that its release is extremely close.
I implore the member to be patient for a bit longer. To get this strategy into the framework that we really want, it has needed some additional work over the past few months. But I can assure Hon Linda Savage that its release is extremely close.

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