❓ Question regarding the McGowan Labor government's investment in step-up, step-down mental health services across WA, particularly in regional areas. The Minister provides an update on existing and planned facilities, highlighting community support challenges in Karratha.
AnsweredQoN 735Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES — STEP-UP, STEP-DOWN
PROGRAM
735. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Health:
Can the minister update the house on
the McGowan Labor government's investment in step-up, step-down
services across Western Australia and can the minister advise the house —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Shall I start
again, Mr Speaker?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I will
make that decision. Start again, member.
Mr
D.T. PUNCH : Can the minister
update the house on the McGowan Labor government's investment in
step-up, step-down services across Western Australia and can the
minister advise the house how these services will support those suffering from
a mental illness, particularly those in regional WA?
Ms L. Mettam : How about the
election promise?
The
SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, how
about you being called to order for the second time. It is not a shouting
match.
PROGRAM
735. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Health:
Can the minister update the house on
the McGowan Labor government's investment in step-up, step-down
services across Western Australia and can the minister advise the house —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Shall I start
again, Mr Speaker?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I will
make that decision. Start again, member.
Mr
D.T. PUNCH : Can the minister
update the house on the McGowan Labor government's investment in
step-up, step-down services across Western Australia and can the
minister advise the house how these services will support those suffering from
a mental illness, particularly those in regional WA?
Ms L. Mettam : How about the
election promise?
The
SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, how
about you being called to order for the second time. It is not a shouting
match.
AnswerView source ↗
I am very proud of the work that the
McGowan Labor government is doing to improve mental health services in the
community. We want to make sure that people get the best possible access to
mental health services that they can in the communities in which they live near
the loved ones who support them. That is why there has been a concerted effort
to build the number of subacute community-based mental health beds in the
communities right across Western Australia to make sure that people have those
opportunities to get mental health care in the communities in which they live.
Part of that has been to develop the step-up, step-down bed facilities in
Rockingham and Joondalup, and they are both functioning very well. In addition,
we are determined to make sure that we also develop the step-up, step-down beds
right across the Western Australia community.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr R.H. COOK : I am very
pleased, Mr Speaker, to say that I will soon be opening a step-up, step-down
bed facility in your electorate of Albany, where we are opening a six-bed
facility.
The SPEAKER : That is
regional.
Mr R.H. COOK : In addition, we
are developing step-up, step-down facilities in the member for Bunbury's electorate, and I would like to thank the
member for his support for that. We are also developing step-up, step-down facilities in Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Broome —
Mr V.A. Catania : What about
Karratha?
Mr R.H. COOK : And, member for
North West Central, in Karratha as well.
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : These are
really important facilities. I want members over there to listen carefully to
what I have to say.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I have called you to order twice and warned you twice. I can throw you
out on two warnings if you keep interjecting, so I suggest you be very quiet for
a little time so we can hear this very good answer about what is happening for
Albany.
Mr R.H. COOK : These are very
important facilities, but they are subacute facilities, as step-up, step-down
suggests—people are transitioning out of acute care or are having to
take some residential care just to rebalance their lives and get back on track.
These people are not, as some would portray, a danger to the community. These
people are important members of our community who are seeking the care of the
mental health system, and it is appropriate that they do so.
I would like to just segue if I may,
member for Bunbury, to the Karratha step-up, step-down facility, where we are
having some problems getting community support for that particular facility. I would
like to thank the member for Pilbara for his support for that facility. The
original site for that facility was considered inappropriate, so with the help
of the City of Karratha and the community we have now settled on a new place
for this step-up, step-down facility and we are determined to develop it. But
it is difficult to develop these facilities unless we have the understanding of
community leaders and the community. It is disappointing to find members of
Parliament who on the one hand say they are supportive of mental health but on
the other are quite happy to stir community anger and resentment about these
sorts of things.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, I cannot hear what you are
saying. Everyone is shouting on both sides of the chamber.
Mr R.H. COOK : In terms of
some of the community anxieties or concern in Karratha, I was disappointed to
see some members not allaying those concerns or helping people to understand
and destigmatise mental health, but stirring the pot and making things a bit
more difficult for the Mental Health Commission to roll out these facilities. I
was particularly disappointed to see a flyer being circulated in Karratha
recently about a forum that was being put on, I understand, by a prominent
member of the local community to voice their strong concern and opposition to
this proposed step-up, step-down facility. What was particularly disturbing was
that they advertised that Hon Jacqui Boydell, Deputy Leader of the WA National
Party, would be there to support it. This is the sort of disgraceful behaviour —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party! Member for Scarborough!
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time. At least they are
talking sense!
Mr R.H. COOK : We are
determined to roll out these facilities because they make good sense for mental
health. They provide proper care for people in the community. Those people are
not a danger to the community. By and large, they are people who are sad and
who just need some help to get their lives back on track. These are important
facilities. We will make sure that we develop them in the communities in which
people live. It is an important area and I thank members for their support.
McGowan Labor government is doing to improve mental health services in the
community. We want to make sure that people get the best possible access to
mental health services that they can in the communities in which they live near
the loved ones who support them. That is why there has been a concerted effort
to build the number of subacute community-based mental health beds in the
communities right across Western Australia to make sure that people have those
opportunities to get mental health care in the communities in which they live.
Part of that has been to develop the step-up, step-down bed facilities in
Rockingham and Joondalup, and they are both functioning very well. In addition,
we are determined to make sure that we also develop the step-up, step-down beds
right across the Western Australia community.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr R.H. COOK : I am very
pleased, Mr Speaker, to say that I will soon be opening a step-up, step-down
bed facility in your electorate of Albany, where we are opening a six-bed
facility.
The SPEAKER : That is
regional.
Mr R.H. COOK : In addition, we
are developing step-up, step-down facilities in the member for Bunbury's electorate, and I would like to thank the
member for his support for that. We are also developing step-up, step-down facilities in Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Broome —
Mr V.A. Catania : What about
Karratha?
Mr R.H. COOK : And, member for
North West Central, in Karratha as well.
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : These are
really important facilities. I want members over there to listen carefully to
what I have to say.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I have called you to order twice and warned you twice. I can throw you
out on two warnings if you keep interjecting, so I suggest you be very quiet for
a little time so we can hear this very good answer about what is happening for
Albany.
Mr R.H. COOK : These are very
important facilities, but they are subacute facilities, as step-up, step-down
suggests—people are transitioning out of acute care or are having to
take some residential care just to rebalance their lives and get back on track.
These people are not, as some would portray, a danger to the community. These
people are important members of our community who are seeking the care of the
mental health system, and it is appropriate that they do so.
I would like to just segue if I may,
member for Bunbury, to the Karratha step-up, step-down facility, where we are
having some problems getting community support for that particular facility. I would
like to thank the member for Pilbara for his support for that facility. The
original site for that facility was considered inappropriate, so with the help
of the City of Karratha and the community we have now settled on a new place
for this step-up, step-down facility and we are determined to develop it. But
it is difficult to develop these facilities unless we have the understanding of
community leaders and the community. It is disappointing to find members of
Parliament who on the one hand say they are supportive of mental health but on
the other are quite happy to stir community anger and resentment about these
sorts of things.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, I cannot hear what you are
saying. Everyone is shouting on both sides of the chamber.
Mr R.H. COOK : In terms of
some of the community anxieties or concern in Karratha, I was disappointed to
see some members not allaying those concerns or helping people to understand
and destigmatise mental health, but stirring the pot and making things a bit
more difficult for the Mental Health Commission to roll out these facilities. I
was particularly disappointed to see a flyer being circulated in Karratha
recently about a forum that was being put on, I understand, by a prominent
member of the local community to voice their strong concern and opposition to
this proposed step-up, step-down facility. What was particularly disturbing was
that they advertised that Hon Jacqui Boydell, Deputy Leader of the WA National
Party, would be there to support it. This is the sort of disgraceful behaviour —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party! Member for Scarborough!
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time. At least they are
talking sense!
Mr R.H. COOK : We are
determined to roll out these facilities because they make good sense for mental
health. They provide proper care for people in the community. Those people are
not a danger to the community. By and large, they are people who are sad and
who just need some help to get their lives back on track. These are important
facilities. We will make sure that we develop them in the communities in which
people live. It is an important area and I thank members for their support.
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