❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Health about the lack of funding for Lifeline WA's crisis telephone counselling service, given its role in supporting government agencies and mental health patients. The Minister acknowledges Lifeline's value but defends the decision not to fund it due to resource duplication.
AnsweredQoN 742Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the lack of operational funding provided by the Government to Lifeline WA’s 24-hour crisis telephone counselling service. (1) Is the minister aware that many government agencies - including mental health clinics at Armadale, Bentley, Fremantle, Graylands and Swan District; Health Direct; the St John Ambulance Service; the Western Australia Police Service; the Fire and Emergency Services Authority; and the Crisis Care Unit - refer their clients to Lifeline WA for counselling? (2) If the minister aware that, in the last financial year, 326 patients receiving treatment in government mental health institutions contacted Lifeline’s unfunded telephone counselling service for counselling? (3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(1) Is the minister aware that many government agencies - including mental health clinics at Armadale, Bentley, Fremantle, Graylands and Swan District; Health Direct; the St John Ambulance Service; the Western Australia Police Service; the Fire and Emergency Services Authority; and the Crisis Care Unit - refer their clients to Lifeline WA for counselling? (2) If the minister aware that, in the last financial year, 326 patients receiving treatment in government mental health institutions contacted Lifeline’s unfunded telephone counselling service for counselling? (3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(2) If the minister aware that, in the last financial year, 326 patients receiving treatment in government mental health institutions contacted Lifeline’s unfunded telephone counselling service for counselling? (3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(1) Is the minister aware that many government agencies - including mental health clinics at Armadale, Bentley, Fremantle, Graylands and Swan District; Health Direct; the St John Ambulance Service; the Western Australia Police Service; the Fire and Emergency Services Authority; and the Crisis Care Unit - refer their clients to Lifeline WA for counselling? (2) If the minister aware that, in the last financial year, 326 patients receiving treatment in government mental health institutions contacted Lifeline’s unfunded telephone counselling service for counselling? (3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(2) If the minister aware that, in the last financial year, 326 patients receiving treatment in government mental health institutions contacted Lifeline’s unfunded telephone counselling service for counselling? (3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(3) Given that Lifeline provides services to assist government agencies to do their job, why did the Government not provide funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service in the recent mental health package? (4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(4) Will the Government provide recurrent operational funding to Lifeline’s telephone counselling service to assist in its work with the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(6) If yes to (4), how much will the Government provide and when? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(1)-(2) The Minister for Health is aware of the valuable work of Lifeline WA. (3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(3) The Government provides considerable assistance to other agencies in this area. Given support to other agencies providing a similar service, funding for Lifeline is a duplication of resources that could be redirected to other areas of mental health services. (4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(4) No. The Department of Health does not provide recurrent funding and, for the reasons outlined in (3), is not planning to provide recurrent funding at this stage. (5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
(5) The Government already provides a range of telephone services to the public and clients of the Western Australian mental health institutions, including recently providing additional funding of $2 million to expand the Psychiatric Emergency Team, which includes a telephone counselling service. Other services include Rural Link, a specialist phone-based mental health service, which is being allocated $600 000 in 2004-05, and a number of contracts with non-government organisations for other phone-based services. In 2004-05 these include: Albany Samaritan Befrienders for a 24-hour crisis phone line - $5 746; Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc for a helpline - $30 699; the Samaritans for a youth liaison program/1800 phone line and youth line - $28 852; and, for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research the Government also provides funding for the ministerial council on suicide prevention - $224 875. (6) Not applicable.
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