❓ Hon. Adele Farina questions the Mental Health Minister regarding referral rates and resourcing of South West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SW CAMHS). The Minister refutes claims of decreased referrals and confirms increased FTE allocation, while asserting adequate data management.
AnsweredQoN 3163Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer to question on notice No. 2794, and ask -
(1) Why has the number of children aged zero to four years referrals to South West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SW CAMHS), decreased significantly since 2008-09?
(2) Why has the number of children aged 12 to 15 years referrals to SW CAMHS decreased significantly since 2008-09?
(3) Why has the number of children aged 16-18 years referrals to SW CAMHS decreased since 2009-10?
(4) Has the number of FTEs allocated to SW CAMHS increased or decreased since 2008-09?
(5) If yes to (4), by how much?
(6) Of the number of children and adolescents assessed by SW CAMHS (break down provided by age category for the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and current year to date) how many of these children and adolescents in each category were admitted for treatment by SW CAMHS?
(7) If SW CAMHS are not adequately resourced to maintain the accurate reporting of the data requested, how are SW CAMHS and the Department of Health and/or the Mental Health Commission/Commissioner and the Minister able to, -
(a) formulate informed policies and strategies for addressing mental illness in children and adolescents in the South West region; and
(b) determine whether the SW CAMHS is adequately resourced to meet the current and growing need in the South West region?
(1) Why has the number of children aged zero to four years referrals to South West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SW CAMHS), decreased significantly since 2008-09?
(2) Why has the number of children aged 12 to 15 years referrals to SW CAMHS decreased significantly since 2008-09?
(3) Why has the number of children aged 16-18 years referrals to SW CAMHS decreased since 2009-10?
(4) Has the number of FTEs allocated to SW CAMHS increased or decreased since 2008-09?
(5) If yes to (4), by how much?
(6) Of the number of children and adolescents assessed by SW CAMHS (break down provided by age category for the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and current year to date) how many of these children and adolescents in each category were admitted for treatment by SW CAMHS?
(7) If SW CAMHS are not adequately resourced to maintain the accurate reporting of the data requested, how are SW CAMHS and the Department of Health and/or the Mental Health Commission/Commissioner and the Minister able to, -
(a) formulate informed policies and strategies for addressing mental illness in children and adolescents in the South West region; and
(b) determine whether the SW CAMHS is adequately resourced to meet the current and growing need in the South West region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 February 2011
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health
Response time
95 days
I am advised that the table referred to in Question on Notice 2794 related to children aged between 0-11 years, not 0-4 years. As was noted in the original answer, the provision of the exact number of referrals to South West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is problematic as they are affected by triage events received via phone or "walk-ins", individual referrals made on more than one occasion; and referral numbers representing only part thereof of a financial year period.
(1-3) There has not been a decrease in the number of referrals of children aged zero to four years, 12-15 years or 16-17 years.
(4) The FTE allocated to SW CAMHS has increased from 2008/2009 to 2010/11 as set out below.
2008/09 - 7.46
2009/10 - 7.33
2010/11 - 8.94
(5) 1.48 FTE
(6) See tabled papers [........]
(7a-b) South West CAMHS is adequately resourced to maintain accurate data.
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
(1-3) There has not been a decrease in the number of referrals of children aged zero to four years, 12-15 years or 16-17 years.
(4) The FTE allocated to SW CAMHS has increased from 2008/2009 to 2010/11 as set out below.
2008/09 - 7.46
2009/10 - 7.33
2010/11 - 8.94
(5) 1.48 FTE
(6) See tabled papers [........]
(7a-b) South West CAMHS is adequately resourced to maintain accurate data.
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
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.