Mental Health Commission
Residential services provide short, medium or long-term accommodation. The accommodation may also include support services for daily living that promote recovery.
Step up/step down services provide short-term (generally up to 28 days) residential mental health specialised support, in a community-based environment.
Transitional services support people for a longer period. We contract Richmind WA to provide a Community Care Unit (CCU) in Orelia, which provides support to adults with severe and persistent mental health issues and complex needs who require a high level of support. People accessing the service may stay for six to 18 months and then transition to alternative accommodation arrangements, or back to their own home, with support provided.
Other models include Community Supported Residential Units (CSRU), which provide stable and affordable housing and support to enable accommodation stability and reduce the need for hospital-based care. They are staffed 24/7 in a home-like environment for people who require a low level of support. The services work with the residents to develop and maintain their daily living skills to participate in community life and activities.
Step Up/Step Down Services
| Location | Service Provider | No. of Beds | Date Opened | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | Neami National | 6 | November 2018 | 08 6323 8900 |
| Bunbury | Richmind WA | 10 | March 2020 | 1800 742 466 |
| Geraldton | Neami National | 10 | January 2021 | 08 6323 8980 |
| Joondalup | Neami National | 22 | May 2013 | 08 6200 9165 |
| Kalgoorlie | Neami National | 10 | January 2021 | 08 6323 8987 |
| Rockingham | Mind Australia | 10 | October 2016 | 1300 286 463 |
The Independent Living Program (or Supportive Landlord Service) provides social housing and a supportive landlord service through a Community Housing Organisation, clinical mental health support and psychosocial support to people with severe and persistent mental illness on a long-term basis in the community.
Long-term mental health residential services for people with high needs also include private psychiatric hostels licensed by the Department of Health's Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit.
The Mental Health Advocacy Service (MHAS) provides advocacy support for licenced private psychiatric hostel residents. MHAS is a free service that is independent of hospitals and mental health services. Mental health advocates can help you understand your legal rights, express your wishes, and uphold your rights.
To find available services near you, search for 'step up/step down' or ‘mental health services’ in the My Services online directory. You can search by your own location, or 'restart' your search and search for services in a major town or city.
To access these services, you can be referred by a General Practitioner, a private psychiatrist or public mental health service.
Homelessness services offer support for people with mental health, alcohol and other drug issues who are at risk of homelessness. This includes Ngatti House and Momentum QP for youth, and Ngulla Mia for adults.
Momentum QP is an eight-bed service in Queens Park, established to support young people with mental health challenges, with or without co-occurring AOD concerns, to transition from homelessness to more independent living. Momentum QP is delivered by Richmind WA in partnership with Anglicare WA, Cyrenian House and Royal Perth Bentley Group.
This service complements the existing Youth Homelessness service in Fremantle (Ngatti House).
The Commission contracts Amana Living (Lefroy Care Centre - Bull Creek) and Southern Cross Care (Frank Prendergast House - Success, and Margaret Hubery House - Shelley) to provide mental health support to older adults in their accommodation services.
There are also older adult residential services in the community, private hospital services and publicly funded older adult inpatient services at Armadale, Bentley, Midland, Mt Lawley, Osborne Park, and Shenton Park (Selby).
In a first for Western Australia, a Community Care Unit was established in Orelia. This service offers intensive, transitional support for people with complex mental health issues. Living Well Community Care Unit is delivered by Richmind WA in partnership with the South Metro Health Service and Cyrenian House.
Page last updated1 May 2025
