The 2032-24 WA State Budget has been handed down by the Treasurer, expected to deliver more than a billion dollars ($1.358 billion) to mental health, alcohol and other drug services in 2023-24.

This is an increase of 7.2% ($91 million) from the previous budget.

Key initiatives in the 2023-24 budget included:

• $9.8 million to extend the initiatives under the Western Australian Suicide Prevention Framework 2021-25 for a further 12 months
• $35.5 million to progress the recommendations of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Taskforce
• $24.4 million over four years to the WA Country Health Service for the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service
• $0.74 million to assist in preparing mental health services for the reforms associated to The Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023 and the repeal of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996
• $7.97 million to continue the uplift to Adult Community Treatment Services.
• Under the Bilateral Schedule on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Western Australia, the State Government has co-funded $61.5 million of new investment in Western Australia for Aftercare services, Eating Disorder services, and the establishment of a new Head to Health Kids Hub.

Budget Commitments Budget Breakdown

The 2022-23 WA State Budget was handed down by the Treasurer, with a $1.257 billion investment in mental health, alcohol and other drug services in Western Australia. This is an increase of 12.5% from the previous budget. 

Key initiatives in the 2022-23 budget included:

• $6.1 million over four years to continue the delivery of the Preventing FASD public education campaign and ongoing training of health workers including those in remote and regional communities
• $3.51 million funding for Suicide Prevention Programs impacted by COVID-19
• Under the Bilateral Schedule on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Western Australia, the State Government has co-funded $40.4 million over four years to establish a two-part community-based Aftercare program
• Under the Bilateral Schedule on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Western Australia, the State Government has co-funded $40.4 million over four years to establish a two-part community-based Aftercare program
• $3.5 million over four years for a Cardiff Model of Violence Prevention pilot
• $4 million to ensure the immediate recommendations of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Taskforce are effectively overseen, designed and implemented
• $12.9 million over four years to enhance the Infant, Child and Adolescent mental health peer workforce
• $1.3 million over two years to develop a specific Infant Child and Adolescent mental health workforce plan
• $18.5 million over four years to increase to the WA Country Health Service Infant, Child, Adolescent mental health frontline face to face workforce (11.6 FTE), providing support for psychiatry, nursing, peer and Aboriginal Mental Health Workers
• $10.5 million over two years to expand Crisis Connect and support children (aged 0-18) and their families and carers waiting to access public specialist Infant, Child and Adolescent (ICA) mental health services
• $10.8 million to continue the pilot of the Active Recovery Teams until 30 June 2023
• $5.1 million investment in the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service
• $7.3 million over four years for the Sobering Up Centre, Low Medical Withdrawal Service and Outpatient Counselling Services operated by the Salvation Army
• Under the Bilateral Schedule on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Western Australia the State Government has co-funded $61.5 million joint investment into mental health and suicide prevention services over four years, including $8.6 million for an eating disorder service in the East Metropolitan area 2023-24 for three years
• Under the Bilateral Schedule on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Western Australia the State Government has co-funded $12.6 million over for years to establish one new Head to Health Kids Hub in Western Australia.

Budget Commitments

The 2021-22 WA State Budget was handed down by the Treasurer, with a $1.114 billion investment in mental health, alcohol and other drug services in Western Australia.

This is an increase of 10.9% from the previous budget.

Key initiatives in the 2021-22 budget included:

• $9.5 million over four years for Psychosocial Support Packages for Young People
• $18.2 million over four years for the Youth Long-Term Housing and Support Program
• $10.6 million over four years to establish a Youth Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Step Up Step Down Service
• $14.8 million over four years for the South Hedland Step Up Step Down service
• $9.8 million for Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Youth Accommodation and Support Services
• $9.2 million over the next four-years to extend the Strong Spirit Strong Mind Public Education Campaign
• $2.5 million over 4 years for a 20 bed AOD withdrawal and rehabilitation facility, plus $10 million for capital works
• $21 million over four years for the Mental Health Co-Response program
• $31.7 million over 4 years to expand Western Australia’s eating disorder treatment services
• $12.6 million has been allocated to establish a new Child, Adolescent and Youth Forensic Outreach Service
• $10 million has been allocated over 4 years for the expansion of youth mental health community treatments services - Youth Axis, YouthLink and YouthReach South
• $0.4 million to continue the peer-based support and education for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/questioning, Asexual (LGBTIQA+) youth
• $17.6 million over four years to establish a Social and Emotional Wellbeing Model of Service Pilot Program  
• $6.7 million for the expansion of the Alcohol. Think Again – Parents, Young People and Alcohol Campaign
• $39.7 million over four years for the Immediate Drug Assistance Coordination Centre
• $8.6 million over four years for Next Step Drug and Alcohol service in Mandurah
• $35.3 million over 4 years for the expansion of the Youth Community Assessment and Treatment Teams
• $5.6 million over four years for the expansion of the Parent and Family Drug Support program.

Budget Commitments Budget Breakdown

More than a billion dollars ($1.013 billion) was allocated to mental health, alcohol and other drug services for Western Australians as part of the 2020-21 State Budget.

Key initiatives in the 2020-21 budget included:

• $24.5 million to establish a 20-bed adult community care unit, to provide high-level support and rehabilitation services in a home-like environment in the community – a first for Western Australia.
• $25.1 million for a new 16-bed youth mental health, alcohol and other drug homelessness service in the Perth metropolitan area. 
• $3.7 million for the Mobile Clinical Outreach Team service, which will continue to deliver essential mental health care to people who are homeless in Perth and Fremantle, through the East Metropolitan Health Service.
• $2.35 million in alcohol and other drug facility upgrades including the sector-leading Next Step Drug and Alcohol Service provided by the Mental Health Commission in East Perth; a boost to the Midland Intervention Centre, which will support people in alcohol or other drug crisis; and community sobering up centres in Roebourne, Carnarvon, Wyndham, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing.
• $32.3 million in funding from 2020-21 to 2023-24 to continue critical suicide prevention services and support the implementation of the new Suicide Prevention Framework;
• $9.8 million across the forward estimates for the development and implementation of regional specific Aboriginal suicide prevention plans; and
• an additional $4.8 million over two years (2020-21 and 2021-22) to provide additional aftercare following a suicide attempt; a service to support communities affected by a suicide death; and increasing capacity of services that provide long-term support to children who have been bereaved by a suicide death.
• $2.2 million as part of the Government’s $6 million package for immediate Covid-19 Response measures, to help support people already accessing mental health, alcohol and other drug services; help services adjust to the new environment; and maintain the infection control standards required during the pandemic.
• $7.3 million as part of the State Government’s response to the Kimberley Coronial inquiry and Learnings from the Message Stick inquiry to deliver additional clinical mental health services in the Kimberley; FASD education campaigns and programs; and an Aboriginal education girls’ program.
• In addition to significant increases across the community bed based services stream, an additional $39.4 million has been allocated to deliver equity in pay rates in non-government organisations across service types.

The 2019-20 State Budget was expected to deliver $942.1 million to mental health, alcohol and other drug services in 2019-20, representing an increase of $23.7 million, or 2.6% from the previous year.

Overall general budget expenditure is forecast to increase by 1.5% in 2019-20.

Key initiatives in the 2019-20 budget included:

• $42.5 million to the co-ordinated and integrated approach to address methamphetamine issues in Western Australia as part of the State Government’s full response to the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce report
• $22.4 million to continue the development of four regional community mental health step up/step down services
• $20.1 for the continuation of the North West Drug and Alcohol Support Program
• $8.1 million for continuation of programs within Suicide Prevention 2020: Together We Can Save Lives through to December 2020
• $5.9 million for the continuation of the Mental Health Court Diversion program
• $3.3 million for the continuation of the 55-bed Transitional Housing and Support Program, with and additional 13 new beds
• $3.6 million to establish a state-wide Recovery College in Western Australia
• $1.1 million for School Drug Education and Road Awareness (SDERA) Program
• $0.9 million for continuation of the Strong Spirit Strong Mind Workforce Training
• $0.6 million for Frontline Worker Training
• $0.5 million for Peer Education Program.

There was also additional funding provided to the Department of Health:

• $15.6 million for a 20-bed, secure mental health unit at Fremantle Hospital
• $4 million for a mental health emergency centre at Midland St John of God Public Hospital
• $3 million to fund comprehensive planning to decommission Graylands Hospital and reconfigure mental health services to contemporary models of community-based care.

Budget Bulletin

The 2018-19 WA State Budget was handed down by the Treasurer, with $918.4 million allocated to improving Western Australians’ mental health and wellbeing and reducing alcohol and other drug related harms.

This represents a $4.2 million increase for mental health, alcohol and other drug services in 2018-19. This will grow to $970.4 million by 2021-22, representing an increase of $56.2 million compared to 2017-18

Key initiatives funded in the 2018-19 budget included:

• $9.3 million over four years to open up to 33 alcohol and other drug low medical withdrawal and residential rehabilitation beds in the South West in 2019
• $7.7 million for a new 10 bed step up/step down service in Geraldton
• $400,000 in 2018-19 to continue prevention and education initiatives as part of the Methamphetamine Action Plan.

Budget Bulletin

The State Government announced the 2017-18 State Budget with new funding decisions adding $61.7 million (new recurrent and capital funding) to the provision of mental health, alcohol and other drug services.

Key initiatives funded in the 2017-18 budget included:

• $7.3 million for the establishment of the 10 bed Kalgoorlie Step Up/Step Down community mental health service
• $18 million over three years to commence operations of a 33 bed residential rehabilitation service in the South West
• $12 million over three years for the continuation of the already operational 60 low medical withdrawal and residential rehabilitation beds across the State. This includes 52 residential rehabilitation beds and eight low medical withdrawal beds
• $200,000 for consultation, analysis and modelling of alcohol and other drug services in the Kimberley to inform the development of a business case for the consideration of Government
• $200,000 to develop a comprehensive recovery college model for Western Australia
• $180,000 per year for a two year trial of the Icebreakers Program in Albany as part of the Methamphetamine Action Plan
• $133,000 per year for three years to GP Down South to provide a 3 Tier Youth Mental Health Program, which raises awareness, provides school workshops about mental health and counselling sessions in the Peel area
• $100,000 for the National Rugby League’s State of Mind Program which provides tools and strategies to grassroots clubs to manage mental health, increase social support for young people and their families, and provide links to support services.

Budget Bulletin

The 2016-17 Budget included $865.8 million for the Mental Health Commission to purchase and deliver services on behalf of the WA community. This represents an 83.9 per cent increase to the sector since 2008-09.