❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding the ongoing funding of the One Life suicide prevention strategy in Bunbury, concerned about a potential service gap. The Minister outlines evaluation processes and alternative funding avenues.
AnsweredQoN 1022Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ONE LIFE SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY COMMUNITY
ACTION PLAN — BUNBURY
1022. Hon ADELE FARINA to
the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the funding of the One Life suicide prevention
strategy community action plan being conducted in Bunbury as part of the state
strategy and the fact that funding for this program will expire this month.
(1) When will the government make a decision regarding the
ongoing funding of this program?
(2) Will
measures be put in place to ensure the continuity of this program until such
time as a decision is made; and, if yes, what are the measures?
(3) If no to
(2), will other suicide prevention programs be supported to fill the service
gap while a funding decision is being made?
ACTION PLAN — BUNBURY
1022. Hon ADELE FARINA to
the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the funding of the One Life suicide prevention
strategy community action plan being conducted in Bunbury as part of the state
strategy and the fact that funding for this program will expire this month.
(1) When will the government make a decision regarding the
ongoing funding of this program?
(2) Will
measures be put in place to ensure the continuity of this program until such
time as a decision is made; and, if yes, what are the measures?
(3) If no to
(2), will other suicide prevention programs be supported to fill the service
gap while a funding decision is being made?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of this question. All the people who are contracted to undertake those services
undertook them in the knowledge that it was a two-year time frame, although
some were given an extension of time to complete work. I appreciate the member's
wording in the question, which accurately referred to the fact that the funding
has expired.
(1) An
independent evaluation of the strategy by Edith Cowan University will determine
the effectiveness of the community action plans and the agency plans to date,
and areas of strength as well as areas for improvement going forward. The Ministerial
Council for Suicide Prevention is also overseeing an overall strategy
evaluation. These evaluations are due in March 2014 and will inform the future
direction and funding of the strategy.
(2)–(3) CAPs
are locally owned suicide prevention strategies that aim to provide a
whole-of-government and whole-of-community response. The One Life transilience,
grief and loss symposium in Bunbury on 3 and 4 October 2013 was an excellent
example of a small amount of strategy funding being levered to attract substantial
in-kind support and participation from local businesses, the university, expert
guest speakers and mental health service providers, including commonwealth
agencies.
The Ministerial Council for Suicide
Prevention has allocated $250 000 for suicide prevention small grants and
training, with applications opening this month and closing on 14 February 2014.
This funding will strengthen sustainability of suicide prevention initiatives
utilising local activities, local resources and local people. In addition to
the strategy, the Mental Health Commission provides significant investment to
suicide prevention services. In 2012–13, approximately $1.6 million was
provided to suicide prevention, early intervention, counselling and
post-intervention services in WA. In 2013–14, funding of $543 000 per
annum to Lifeline over three years will provide crisis support, suicide
prevention and mental health support services. Youth Focus will receive $2.5
million over five years to help young people and school communities to overcome
issues associated with self-harm, depression and suicide. The amalgamation of
the Mental Health Commission and the Drug and Alcohol Office will also improve
coordination of services for people with co-occurring issues, and enhance
suicide prevention programs for those most at-risk across the state.
of this question. All the people who are contracted to undertake those services
undertook them in the knowledge that it was a two-year time frame, although
some were given an extension of time to complete work. I appreciate the member's
wording in the question, which accurately referred to the fact that the funding
has expired.
(1) An
independent evaluation of the strategy by Edith Cowan University will determine
the effectiveness of the community action plans and the agency plans to date,
and areas of strength as well as areas for improvement going forward. The Ministerial
Council for Suicide Prevention is also overseeing an overall strategy
evaluation. These evaluations are due in March 2014 and will inform the future
direction and funding of the strategy.
(2)–(3) CAPs
are locally owned suicide prevention strategies that aim to provide a
whole-of-government and whole-of-community response. The One Life transilience,
grief and loss symposium in Bunbury on 3 and 4 October 2013 was an excellent
example of a small amount of strategy funding being levered to attract substantial
in-kind support and participation from local businesses, the university, expert
guest speakers and mental health service providers, including commonwealth
agencies.
The Ministerial Council for Suicide
Prevention has allocated $250 000 for suicide prevention small grants and
training, with applications opening this month and closing on 14 February 2014.
This funding will strengthen sustainability of suicide prevention initiatives
utilising local activities, local resources and local people. In addition to
the strategy, the Mental Health Commission provides significant investment to
suicide prevention services. In 2012–13, approximately $1.6 million was
provided to suicide prevention, early intervention, counselling and
post-intervention services in WA. In 2013–14, funding of $543 000 per
annum to Lifeline over three years will provide crisis support, suicide
prevention and mental health support services. Youth Focus will receive $2.5
million over five years to help young people and school communities to overcome
issues associated with self-harm, depression and suicide. The amalgamation of
the Mental Health Commission and the Drug and Alcohol Office will also improve
coordination of services for people with co-occurring issues, and enhance
suicide prevention programs for those most at-risk across the state.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.