Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2187

❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the Minister for Health regarding WACHS housing stock, occupancy, alternative accommodation arrangements, associated costs, and future strategies. The response provides data on housing numbers, occupancy rates, costs, and outlines ongoing efforts to address housing demand.

AnsweredQoN 2187Legislative Council

Asked

18 September 2024

Member

Hon Martin Aldridge

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS) housing stock, and I ask: (a) for the 2023-24 year, what was the WACHS housing stock available; (b) please provide a breakdown of the current level of WACHS housing stock by WACHS region; (c) of the available WACHS stock, what number is presently occupied; (d) is WACHS currently utilising any other arrangements to house staff, including hotels, motels and short-stay accommodation, or other alternative accommodation types; (e) in relation to (d): (i) please identify the total number of staff presently housed in other arrangements; and (ii) will the Minister please provide a breakdown of staff housed in other arrangements by WACHS region; (f) for each of the following months, what has been the cost to house staff in hotels, motels, short-stay accommodation, and alternative accommodation types: (i) October 2023; (ii) November 2023; (iii) December 2023; (iv) January 2024; (v) February 2024; (vi) March 2024; (vii) April 2024; (viii) May 2024; and (ix) June 2024; (g) what strategies does WACHS have in place to meet current and future demand for staff accommodation; and (h) how many houses are currently being built by WACHS for the purpose of being occupied by health staff?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

22 October 2024

Responded by

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health

Response time

5 days

(a) 2080.
(b)
Kimberley
Pilbara
Midwest
Goldfields
Wheatbelt
South West
Great Southern
494
532
349
300
183
117
118
(c) 2010.
(d) Yes
(e) in relation to (d)
i.115
ii.
Kimberley
Pilbara
Midwest
Goldfields
Wheatbelt
South West
Great Southern
20
11
25
11
28
17
3
(f)
i. October 2023;        $229,161.03
ii. November 2023;    $303,567.33
iii. December 2023;    $225,698.69
iv. January 2024;        $302,087.49
v. February 2024;      $333,750.30
vi. March 2024;          $245,795.65
vii. April 2024;            $343,467.09
viii. May 2024;             $397,850.03
ix. June 2024              $370,267.29
(g) WA Country Health Service (WACHS) are actively exploring solutions towards the provision of additional housing to meet the additional demand. In 2022, WACHS launched a formal marketing campaign for the ‘Country Health Housing’ Investor Partnership Scheme.
(h) Eight modular dwellings were completed last financial year with a further eleven planned for delivery.

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