❓ Ravlich asks about the implementation of the 2008 coronial inquest recommendations regarding suicides in the Fitzroy Valley. The Minister details progress on Recommendation 24 (Broome Mental Health Unit) and outlines additional investments in mental health and suicide prevention in the Kimberley region.
AnsweredQoN 6024Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 2008 coronial inquest into suicides in the Fitzroy Valley, and I ask —
(1) Can the Minister advise how many recommendations from the coronial inquest in the Fitzroy Valley have been implemented by the Barnett Government?
(2) Can the Minister advise which recommendations have not been implemented?
(1) Can the Minister advise how many recommendations from the coronial inquest in the Fitzroy Valley have been implemented by the Barnett Government?
(2) Can the Minister advise which recommendations have not been implemented?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
34 days
(1-2) In February 2008 the Coroner of Western Australia, Mr Alistair Hope, released his findings into the 22 alcohol and drug related deaths of Indigenous people in the Kimberley, this is commonly referred to the Hope report.
With regards to the implementation of the recommendations of the Hope Report, this is a cross-government response covering many portfolios, coordinated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, and should be redirected accordingly for action.
The only recommendation pertaining to the Mental Health portfolio was Recommendation 24. The Coroner recommended that the government take immediate action to construct a secure mental health facility at the Broome Regional Hospital where there would be trained mental health services available at all times (24/7) which would enable Kimberley residents to be treated for serious mental health problems without leaving the Kimberley.
The 14-bed Broome Mental Health Unit was completed and opened in May 2012. Ten beds were opened in July 2012, and the remaining four secure beds are due to open in November 2012.
Over and above the recommendations of the Hope report the State Government has committed $13 million over four years for the WA
Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-2013
. In March 2011 I announced $1.36 million for suicide prevention in the Kimberley. This included almost $800,000 allocated to the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC) by the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention (MSCP). The MHC provided $536,000 for enhanced Standby postvention support by a range of services between March to September 2011.
The MHC has funded local community responses to suicide prevention. This included the provision of $75,000 in funding support for the Blank Page Summit Hard Yarn Youth Mob held in Billard on 25-29 July 2011, as well as an additional $25,000 for the attendance of twenty community members at this Summit.
MHC has provided one-off funding of $35,000 to the Department for Indigenous Affairs towards the Senior Project Officer: Halls Creek Healing Strategy. This position will work within the Remote Service Delivery structure with Government departments and other stakeholders to develop and progress a formal Halls Creek Healing Strategy. Recruitment is close to being finalised.
In signing a National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes, the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments committed significant funds over 2009/10 - 2013/14 to help reduce health inequalities experienced by Aboriginal people. The State Government has committed $22.47 million over four years to establish a Statewide Specialist Aboriginal Mental Health Service that will provide specialist clinical interventions to Aboriginal people with severe and persistent mental illnesses across WA. The MHC has provided $2 million per annum for this service in the Kimberley region which includes 12 additional staff.
The Drug and Alcohol Office has recently awarded in excess of $9 million in tenders for additional alcohol and other drug services for the Kimberley. The expansion of services will ensure that all communities across the Kimberley have increased access to specialist alcohol and other drug counselling and support, community capacity building and targeted prevention.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
With regards to the implementation of the recommendations of the Hope Report, this is a cross-government response covering many portfolios, coordinated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, and should be redirected accordingly for action.
The only recommendation pertaining to the Mental Health portfolio was Recommendation 24. The Coroner recommended that the government take immediate action to construct a secure mental health facility at the Broome Regional Hospital where there would be trained mental health services available at all times (24/7) which would enable Kimberley residents to be treated for serious mental health problems without leaving the Kimberley.
The 14-bed Broome Mental Health Unit was completed and opened in May 2012. Ten beds were opened in July 2012, and the remaining four secure beds are due to open in November 2012.
Over and above the recommendations of the Hope report the State Government has committed $13 million over four years for the WA
Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-2013
. In March 2011 I announced $1.36 million for suicide prevention in the Kimberley. This included almost $800,000 allocated to the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC) by the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention (MSCP). The MHC provided $536,000 for enhanced Standby postvention support by a range of services between March to September 2011.
The MHC has funded local community responses to suicide prevention. This included the provision of $75,000 in funding support for the Blank Page Summit Hard Yarn Youth Mob held in Billard on 25-29 July 2011, as well as an additional $25,000 for the attendance of twenty community members at this Summit.
MHC has provided one-off funding of $35,000 to the Department for Indigenous Affairs towards the Senior Project Officer: Halls Creek Healing Strategy. This position will work within the Remote Service Delivery structure with Government departments and other stakeholders to develop and progress a formal Halls Creek Healing Strategy. Recruitment is close to being finalised.
In signing a National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes, the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments committed significant funds over 2009/10 - 2013/14 to help reduce health inequalities experienced by Aboriginal people. The State Government has committed $22.47 million over four years to establish a Statewide Specialist Aboriginal Mental Health Service that will provide specialist clinical interventions to Aboriginal people with severe and persistent mental illnesses across WA. The MHC has provided $2 million per annum for this service in the Kimberley region which includes 12 additional staff.
The Drug and Alcohol Office has recently awarded in excess of $9 million in tenders for additional alcohol and other drug services for the Kimberley. The expansion of services will ensure that all communities across the Kimberley have increased access to specialist alcohol and other drug counselling and support, community capacity building and targeted prevention.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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