❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the permanent closure of the Department of Communities office in Margaret River, citing the need for support services due to recent suicides. The Minister clarifies the office's status and directs suicide support responsibility to Health and Mental Health Commission.
AnsweredQoN 158Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COMMUNITIES — MARGARET RIVER OFFICE
158. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the closure of the
Department of Communities office in Margaret River in 2020, which was described
as only a ''trial'', with the department advising that the trial
review would be finished by the end of January 2021, with outcomes released
mid-2021.
(1) Will this
office closure be permanent?
(2) If no to (1),
when will the office reopen and what will be the opening hours when it does?
(3) How many
staff will be employed?
(4) If yes to
(1), what is the rationale for its closure, given the recent tragic suicides in
the Margaret River region and the need for this valuable support service?
158. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the closure of the
Department of Communities office in Margaret River in 2020, which was described
as only a ''trial'', with the department advising that the trial
review would be finished by the end of January 2021, with outcomes released
mid-2021.
(1) Will this
office closure be permanent?
(2) If no to (1),
when will the office reopen and what will be the opening hours when it does?
(3) How many
staff will be employed?
(4) If yes to
(1), what is the rationale for its closure, given the recent tragic suicides in
the Margaret River region and the need for this valuable support service?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Communities' Margaret River office has been closed to the
general public since 2018. Communities' staff continue to work out of
the Margaret River office as required and have a regular presence in the
Margaret River community.
(2)–(3) Not applicable.
(4) Suicide
support is primarily a service of the Department of Health and the Mental
Health Commission.
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Communities' Margaret River office has been closed to the
general public since 2018. Communities' staff continue to work out of
the Margaret River office as required and have a regular presence in the
Margaret River community.
(2)–(3) Not applicable.
(4) Suicide
support is primarily a service of the Department of Health and the Mental
Health Commission.
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