❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding federal funding cuts to Lamp Inc and the impact on mental health services in the lower south west for those ineligible for the NDIS. The Minister responds by stating that the state will not be an automatic default funder for services.
AnsweredQoN 931Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LAMP INC
931. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
Minister for Mental Health:
(1) What
representations has the minister made to her federal colleagues on the federal
government's decision not to fund Lamp Inc beyond the end of this year,
and what was the outcome of those representations?
(2) What
action has the minister taken to ensure that people with mental health problems
living in the lower south west who are not eligible to join the NDIS My Way
trial continue to have access to mental health support services when Lamp Inc
is no longer funded to provide these services?
931. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
Minister for Mental Health:
(1) What
representations has the minister made to her federal colleagues on the federal
government's decision not to fund Lamp Inc beyond the end of this year,
and what was the outcome of those representations?
(2) What
action has the minister taken to ensure that people with mental health problems
living in the lower south west who are not eligible to join the NDIS My Way
trial continue to have access to mental health support services when Lamp Inc
is no longer funded to provide these services?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) The member
made it quite clear that Lamp Inc is going through the tendering process for
federal funding.
Hon Adele Farina : No, they can't.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I have met with and spoken to
people from Lamp Inc. I know for certain that the office of Nola Marino, the
local federal member, has also done the same thing. The issue relates to a
location that is specific to the areas that Lamp Inc wants to operate in. It
was told that it could tender through the application for Bunbury. That is the
advice that I have been given. In the meantime, I have referred all the
information that I have received and the people who have spoken to me about it
to the office of Nola Marino because this is a federal matter.
Was there a second part to the
question?
Hon Adele Farina : Yes. What are you doing to ensure
that people living in the lower south west continue to have access to mental
health services once funding of Lamp Inc ceases?
Hon HELEN MORTON : I continue —
(2) For a start, the funding goes
through to December. I do not know whether the funding will cease or whether
there will be an alternative provider. I was told that the services that are
able to be provided from Bunbury can go into that outreach service.
Hon Adele Farina : No, they can't.
Hon HELEN MORTON : That is the advice that I have been
given. I am just telling the member what I have done and what I have been told.
The mobile service that Lamp Inc is referring to can be a mobile service from
Bunbury. Let us wait and see who the successful tenderer is. It may be Lamp Inc
if it ended up putting in an application, because it was advised to. If it did
not, so be it.
In terms of any further contact that I have had with my
federal counterpart, I have worked through the office of Nola Marino. There has
been considerable contact between my office and her office and also directly
with the people from Lamp Inc. I have spoken with the Mental Health Commission
as well, asking what we could or should do about it if it is a problem. The
issue for us is that the state will not be an automatic default funder for
services. That is quite clear. Anything of that nature would have to be looked
at on a case-by-case basis. Even still, organisations such as Lamp Inc cannot
assume that they do not have to go through an acquittal process or meet
particular KPIs.
Hon Adele Farina : They've met all of them.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It has met them from a state point
of view. I do not know very much about what it has met in terms of those
requirements for funding.
Hon Adele Farina : But my issue is: what happens to
those people with mental health problems living in the lower south west who
cannot join the NDIS trial and do not have any services?
Hon HELEN MORTON : Let us wait and see who the
successful tenderer is, because there may well be an alternative tenderer if
Lamp Inc is not successful. The issue about the member linking it to the NDIS
is a real problem. She knows very well that there is no link whatsoever.
made it quite clear that Lamp Inc is going through the tendering process for
federal funding.
Hon Adele Farina : No, they can't.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I have met with and spoken to
people from Lamp Inc. I know for certain that the office of Nola Marino, the
local federal member, has also done the same thing. The issue relates to a
location that is specific to the areas that Lamp Inc wants to operate in. It
was told that it could tender through the application for Bunbury. That is the
advice that I have been given. In the meantime, I have referred all the
information that I have received and the people who have spoken to me about it
to the office of Nola Marino because this is a federal matter.
Was there a second part to the
question?
Hon Adele Farina : Yes. What are you doing to ensure
that people living in the lower south west continue to have access to mental
health services once funding of Lamp Inc ceases?
Hon HELEN MORTON : I continue —
(2) For a start, the funding goes
through to December. I do not know whether the funding will cease or whether
there will be an alternative provider. I was told that the services that are
able to be provided from Bunbury can go into that outreach service.
Hon Adele Farina : No, they can't.
Hon HELEN MORTON : That is the advice that I have been
given. I am just telling the member what I have done and what I have been told.
The mobile service that Lamp Inc is referring to can be a mobile service from
Bunbury. Let us wait and see who the successful tenderer is. It may be Lamp Inc
if it ended up putting in an application, because it was advised to. If it did
not, so be it.
In terms of any further contact that I have had with my
federal counterpart, I have worked through the office of Nola Marino. There has
been considerable contact between my office and her office and also directly
with the people from Lamp Inc. I have spoken with the Mental Health Commission
as well, asking what we could or should do about it if it is a problem. The
issue for us is that the state will not be an automatic default funder for
services. That is quite clear. Anything of that nature would have to be looked
at on a case-by-case basis. Even still, organisations such as Lamp Inc cannot
assume that they do not have to go through an acquittal process or meet
particular KPIs.
Hon Adele Farina : They've met all of them.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It has met them from a state point
of view. I do not know very much about what it has met in terms of those
requirements for funding.
Hon Adele Farina : But my issue is: what happens to
those people with mental health problems living in the lower south west who
cannot join the NDIS trial and do not have any services?
Hon HELEN MORTON : Let us wait and see who the
successful tenderer is, because there may well be an alternative tenderer if
Lamp Inc is not successful. The issue about the member linking it to the NDIS
is a real problem. She knows very well that there is no link whatsoever.
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