❓ A parliamentary question addresses mental health service funding in regional WA, particularly for children. The Minister responds, detailing funding allocations and initiatives, highlighting a focus on regional areas and specific programs.
AnsweredQoN 486Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES — REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA
I refer to the provision of mental health services in regional Western Australia. (1) Does the minister acknowledge the critical role regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support for children and their families, particularly for children and young people with complex needs? (2) Is the minister aware of regional communities’ expectations that public mental health services are resourced well enough to ensure that general practitioners, non-government organisations and stakeholder groups are supported in taking on mental health patients? (3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the provision of mental health services in regional Western Australia. (1) Does the minister acknowledge the critical role regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support for children and their families, particularly for children and young people with complex needs? (2) Is the minister aware of regional communities’ expectations that public mental health services are resourced well enough to ensure that general practitioners, non-government organisations and stakeholder groups are supported in taking on mental health patients? (3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge the critical role regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support for children and their families, particularly for children and young people with complex needs? (2) Is the minister aware of regional communities’ expectations that public mental health services are resourced well enough to ensure that general practitioners, non-government organisations and stakeholder groups are supported in taking on mental health patients? (3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(2) Is the minister aware of regional communities’ expectations that public mental health services are resourced well enough to ensure that general practitioners, non-government organisations and stakeholder groups are supported in taking on mental health patients? (3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge the critical role regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support for children and their families, particularly for children and young people with complex needs? (2) Is the minister aware of regional communities’ expectations that public mental health services are resourced well enough to ensure that general practitioners, non-government organisations and stakeholder groups are supported in taking on mental health patients? (3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(2) Is the minister aware of regional communities’ expectations that public mental health services are resourced well enough to ensure that general practitioners, non-government organisations and stakeholder groups are supported in taking on mental health patients? (3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(3) Can the minister explain why only $1.6 million has been awarded to all country mental health services for growth funding when in some regional areas such as the South West no growth funding has been forthcoming for four years? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
I thank the honourable member for giving me a copy of that question so that I did not have to write it down as she was speaking. (1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(1) I acknowledge the critical role that regional public mental health services play in providing specialist support services for children and their families. I have obviously taken on a significant program of trips to the country regions since I have become the minister and, notwithstanding that, I have worked as a health service manager in the country over a number of years so I am aware of the importance of those services, particularly for children and young people with complex needs. (2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(2) I am also very aware of the regional communities’ expectations that GPs, non-government organisations and other stakeholder groups need support through clinical specialist mental health services to enable them to provide their services. (3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
(3) Hon Adele Farina referred to the amount of $1.6 million as the total growth funding. The total growth funding for health—not specific to any particular area, but for increased services across the board—is determined via a formula similar, perhaps, to how increases are made to the Department of Education’s growth funding each year. The amount of that growth funding that is allocated in total to mental health—that is general growth funding that is non-specific—this year is $6.5 million. We have indicated to the Department of Health that we would like that to be spent primarily on children and young people. Of that amount, $1.6 million is for regional areas. That amount makes up 24 per cent of the total general growth funding for this area in regional and remote areas. Over and above that general growth funding, which is non-specific, there are other areas of growth funding occurring in regional and remote areas. For example, the Broome inpatient unit will open this year, so there will be funding for that. An amount of $5.2 million has been allocated in this coming financial year for the specialist Aboriginal mental health service. Social and emotional wellbeing funding has already been allocated in this coming financial year. The suicide prevention program has funding for this coming financial year. At least 20 of the houses for the housing package in mental health were allocated for regional Western Australians, and, apart from the actual construction and purchasing of those houses, $25 million will be provided over four years for those services that are needed so that people can stay safely in those homes. Of that $25 million, at least $5 million will be going into country, rural and remote areas. We are coordinating a significant amount of funding, and working in conjunction with the commonwealth under the national partnership agreement, to grow the headspace service, which is specifically targeted to younger people, and the early psychosis intervention program. Apart from that, the funding that has gone to YouthFocus has a component that goes out of the metropolitan area, and the funding that goes to Lifeline certainly has a service that is also delivered outside the metropolitan area. I know that the member did not ask about drug and alcohol services, but those services are so entwined that they can hardly be separated. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don’t you have a policy for drug and alcohol — Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Just be quiet! The answer is to Hon Adele Farina. Nearly the entire growth funding in drug and alcohol services is going into the non-metropolitan area. Funding of $16.4 million will go to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, which will create 31 additional full-time equivalent positions. An amount of $2.4 million will go to a dual counselling and sobering-up centre in Carnarvon. Additional funding will go to the sobering-up centre in Kalgoorlie. Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon Adele Farina : But nothing in the South West. Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
Hon HELEN MORTON : The drug and alcohol services that I have mentioned are quite specifically in the north west, which is where the biggest problems exist. In terms of the range of services, the non-specific growth funding will be delivered specifically for youth, but the other services also contain services for young people.
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