❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding suicide rates among FIFO workers in WA and calls for an independent inquiry. The Minister acknowledges the issue, highlights existing research and initiatives, and states an independent inquiry is not needed at this time.
AnsweredQoN 740Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SUICIDE —
FLY IN, FLY OUT WORKERS
740. Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to deaths by suicide of fly in, fly out workers in
Western Australia.
(1) How many
deaths by suicide have been recorded in Western Australia within the FIFO group
in each of the following years —
(a) 2009–10;
(b) 2010–11;
(c) 2011–12;
(d) 2012–13;
and
(e) 2013–14?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the number of deaths by suicide in the Pilbara over the
last year has caused the Pilbara coroner to call for a special inquiry into the
deaths?
(3) Is the
minister concerned to hear of the high number of suspected deaths by suicide
amongst FIFO workers?
(4) Will the
minister establish an independent inquiry into the mental health issues faced
by our fly in, fly out workforce?
FLY IN, FLY OUT WORKERS
740. Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to deaths by suicide of fly in, fly out workers in
Western Australia.
(1) How many
deaths by suicide have been recorded in Western Australia within the FIFO group
in each of the following years —
(a) 2009–10;
(b) 2010–11;
(c) 2011–12;
(d) 2012–13;
and
(e) 2013–14?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the number of deaths by suicide in the Pilbara over the
last year has caused the Pilbara coroner to call for a special inquiry into the
deaths?
(3) Is the
minister concerned to hear of the high number of suspected deaths by suicide
amongst FIFO workers?
(4) Will the
minister establish an independent inquiry into the mental health issues faced
by our fly in, fly out workforce?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) (a)–(e)
Cause of death data in Australia, including suicide, is not reported or
published by profession or employment. We gather information on this through
various means, but the formal information does not show profession or
employment.
(2) I am aware
that the district coroner has raised with the State Coroner that a number of
suspected suicides in the Pilbara require investigation. As an independent
judicial officer, the State Coroner will make her own decision as to whether
these deaths will be either individually or collectively the subject of an
inquest. In the event the State Coroner makes a recommendation on mental health
issues, this would be considered by the state government.
(3) The Mental
Health Commission has previously identified in a variety of documents that fly
in, fly out and drive in, drive out workers have greater exposure to the risk
factors that are known to contribute to death by suicide. In particular, risks
due to social isolation, family and relationship stress and being exposed to
high-risk activities such as those undertaken by underground miners, riggers,
blast crews et cetera are greater for FIFO–DIDO workers than for
others.
The consultation that we have
commissioned and other research into the mental wellbeing of FIFO and DIDO
workers, including the Lifeline–Edith Cowan University study, ''FIFO/DIDO
Mental Health Research Report 2013'' that was released earlier this
year, along with other documents, have informed our development of support
resources that are soon to be released. The online resources will include
strategies that support mental health and wellbeing for FIFO workers and their
families, services and supports, and personal stories of dealing with
challenges and strengthening resilience. In developing these resources, project
coordinators have spent time working on Pilbara mine sites, getting firsthand
experience of the lifestyle.
I draw the member's
attention to some research that was done on this matter by the federal Standing
Committee on Regional Australia. Its report titled ''Cancer of the bush
or salvation for our cities? Fly-in, fly-out and drive-in, drive-out workforce
practices in Regional Australia'' was released in February 2013. A WA
Department of Health review of the health of fly in, fly out workers was
released after 2010, but it covered the period from 2008 to 2010. That review
studied 388 FIFO workers and 916 shiftworkers. The Lifeline report that I
referred to previously surveyed 924 FIFO workers, and followed up with a number
of interviews with specific FIFO workers. There has been some recent good
research around the issues of mental health, FIFO and suicide prevention, which
is work that we are relying on and which is feeding into the development of the
resources that are about to hit the deck. I think that within four weeks the
information that has been provided in this area will be available.
(4) Mental
health issues faced by our fly in, fly out and drive in, drive out workforce
are being addressed through a number of initiatives, as outlined in the
response to part (3).
Our efforts are focused on taking
action on the ground now. This action will have real impacts based on the
information already gathered on how best to support these workers. Some of
these research projects are quite specific about how best to deliver that
support. To assist in this process, the vacancy on the Ministerial Council for
Suicide Prevention arising from Sam Walsh leaving the state has been filled by
Mr Andrew Harding, chief executive at Rio Tinto Iron Ore. I am absolutely
certain that Mr Harding will bring the FIFO–DIDO perspective to the
council and its action planning and implementation.
They are the actions that the
government is focused on at the moment.
The PRESIDENT : Thank you for that very detailed and
comprehensive answer, minister.
(1) (a)–(e)
Cause of death data in Australia, including suicide, is not reported or
published by profession or employment. We gather information on this through
various means, but the formal information does not show profession or
employment.
(2) I am aware
that the district coroner has raised with the State Coroner that a number of
suspected suicides in the Pilbara require investigation. As an independent
judicial officer, the State Coroner will make her own decision as to whether
these deaths will be either individually or collectively the subject of an
inquest. In the event the State Coroner makes a recommendation on mental health
issues, this would be considered by the state government.
(3) The Mental
Health Commission has previously identified in a variety of documents that fly
in, fly out and drive in, drive out workers have greater exposure to the risk
factors that are known to contribute to death by suicide. In particular, risks
due to social isolation, family and relationship stress and being exposed to
high-risk activities such as those undertaken by underground miners, riggers,
blast crews et cetera are greater for FIFO–DIDO workers than for
others.
The consultation that we have
commissioned and other research into the mental wellbeing of FIFO and DIDO
workers, including the Lifeline–Edith Cowan University study, ''FIFO/DIDO
Mental Health Research Report 2013'' that was released earlier this
year, along with other documents, have informed our development of support
resources that are soon to be released. The online resources will include
strategies that support mental health and wellbeing for FIFO workers and their
families, services and supports, and personal stories of dealing with
challenges and strengthening resilience. In developing these resources, project
coordinators have spent time working on Pilbara mine sites, getting firsthand
experience of the lifestyle.
I draw the member's
attention to some research that was done on this matter by the federal Standing
Committee on Regional Australia. Its report titled ''Cancer of the bush
or salvation for our cities? Fly-in, fly-out and drive-in, drive-out workforce
practices in Regional Australia'' was released in February 2013. A WA
Department of Health review of the health of fly in, fly out workers was
released after 2010, but it covered the period from 2008 to 2010. That review
studied 388 FIFO workers and 916 shiftworkers. The Lifeline report that I
referred to previously surveyed 924 FIFO workers, and followed up with a number
of interviews with specific FIFO workers. There has been some recent good
research around the issues of mental health, FIFO and suicide prevention, which
is work that we are relying on and which is feeding into the development of the
resources that are about to hit the deck. I think that within four weeks the
information that has been provided in this area will be available.
(4) Mental
health issues faced by our fly in, fly out and drive in, drive out workforce
are being addressed through a number of initiatives, as outlined in the
response to part (3).
Our efforts are focused on taking
action on the ground now. This action will have real impacts based on the
information already gathered on how best to support these workers. Some of
these research projects are quite specific about how best to deliver that
support. To assist in this process, the vacancy on the Ministerial Council for
Suicide Prevention arising from Sam Walsh leaving the state has been filled by
Mr Andrew Harding, chief executive at Rio Tinto Iron Ore. I am absolutely
certain that Mr Harding will bring the FIFO–DIDO perspective to the
council and its action planning and implementation.
They are the actions that the
government is focused on at the moment.
The PRESIDENT : Thank you for that very detailed and
comprehensive answer, minister.
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.