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❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding WACHS housing stock, availability, occupancy, alternative accommodation arrangements, associated costs, and future strategies. The response provides data on housing numbers, regional breakdowns, and costs.

AnsweredQoN 1682Legislative Council

Asked

11 October 2023

Member

Hon Martin Aldridge

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) housing stock, and I ask: (a) for each of the following years, what was the WACHS housing stock available: (i) 2020-21; (ii) 2021-22; and (iii) 2022-23 to date; (b) please provide a breakdown of the current level of WACHS housing stock by WACHS region; (c) Of the available WACHS stock, what number is presently occupied; (d) is WACHS currently utilising any other arrangements to house staff, including hotels, motels and short-stay accommodation or other alternative accommodation types; (e) in relation to (d), please identify: (i) the total number of staff presently housed in other arrangements; and (ii) will the Minister please provide a breakdown of staff housed in other arrangements by WACHS region; (f) will the Minister please provide a breakdown of the number of staff housed in other arrangements by WACHS region; (g) for each of the following months, what has been the cost to house staff in hotels, motels, short-stay accommodation, and alternative accommodation types: (i) June 2023; (ii) July 2023; (iii) August 2023; and (iv) September 2023; (h) what strategies does WACHS have in place to meet current and future demand for staff accommodation; and (i) how many houses are currently being built by WACHS for the purpose of being occupied by health staff?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

29 November 2023

Responded by

Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health

Response time

12 days

(a)
(i) 1457
(ii) 1722
(iii) 1943
(b)
Kimberley
Pilbara
Midwest
Goldfields
Wheatbelt
South West
Great Southern
479
502
293
294
177
115
106
(c) 1872
(d) Yes
(e)
(i) 66
(ii)
Kimberley
Pilbara
Midwest
Goldfields
Wheatbelt
South West
Great Southern
12
13
1
4
4
29
3
(f) Refer to (e)(ii)
(g)
(i) $402,543
(ii) $372,143
(iii) $409,107
(iv) $377,960
(h) WA Country Health Service (WACHS) are actively exploring solutions towards the provision of additional housing to meet the additional demand. In 2022, WACHS launched a formal marketing campaign for the ‘Country Health Housing’ Investor Partnership Scheme.
WACHS is collaborating with these investors to secure new fit for purpose accommodation for WACHS’s workforce, noting significant market pressures are currently impacting many investors. WACHS is also undertaking a program of works to improve the security and amenity levels of its staff accommodation portfolio.
(i) Eight modular dwellings are anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023.

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