Mental Health Commission
The State Government committed to a statewide, integrated Methamphetamine Action Plan to reduce the demand, supply and harm from methamphetamine use, including allocating $45 million of new and existing funding over four years to deliver the key initiatives outlined in the election.
As part of this, $200,000 was allocated from the Royalties for Regions (RfR) Program for the Mental Health Commission (Commission) to identify and undertake planning regarding gaps in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in the Kimberley.
We consulted with stakeholders to inform the development of AOD and co-occurring mental health services in the Kimberley region. Key themes were raised throughout the consultation.
As part of the 2019-20 Budget, the State Government allocated $11.5 million over the forward estimates to expand AOD treatment services in the Kimberley region including the below.
- $9.2 million for the development of a comprehensive, specialist AOD service for young people with complex needs that includes consideration of residential rehabilitation, low medical withdrawal and stabilisation, and day programs (including ‘on-country’ programs, family intervention, co-occurring mental health and AOD, and links with other existing service providers in the Kimberley).
- $2.3 million for the provision of four adult low medical withdrawal beds to support withdrawal to take place in the Kimberley region, given that these services do not formally exist in the Kimberley region.
The State Government also committed $20.1 million through the RfR, to continue core treatment and prevention services in the Pilbara and Kimberley through the North West Drug and Alcohol Support Program.
Youth and AOD in the Kimberley
In 2019, we engaged a consultant to lead the co-design of a comprehensive AOD service for young people with complex needs in the Kimberley.
Consultations in the Kimberley region were held when borders reopened post-COVID. After speaking to key partners in the region, the co-design of the model of service began in July 2020. Consultation with key stakeholders, including young people in the Kimberley and their families, informed the development of the model.
In response to concerns about consultation fatigue across the region, we joined with the WA Primary Health Alliance to integrate consultations in the East Kimberley for the co-design of the Kimberley Youth AOD Service and development of the headspace service in Kununurra. This is part of an ongoing commitment from both agencies to identify opportunities to collaborate and integrate projects where possible. Read the joint statement from the MHC and WAPHA outlining this commitment here.
Read the Kimberley youth AOD service co-design summary here.
The service model outlines seven different components, delivered in an integrated way with existing services that are already available in the Kimberley, to help support young people aged 10-18 years, and their families. There will be some flexibility for the service to work with people under 10 and up to 25 years of age if required. Ultimately, the service aims to prevent and intervene in young people's AOD use and support them to achieve meaningful and sustained improvements in their social and emotional wellbeing.
Read the Kimberley youth AOD service model here.
Some of the components of the model are already being delivered in the region. We will complete gap analysis and prioritisation regarding the seven different components of the service model, for each location across the Kimberley. This will include engagement with key stakeholders as required.
Page last updated16 April 2025
