Mental Health Commission
As part of the 2019-20 Budget, the State Government allocated $11.5 million over the forward estimates to expand alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in the Kimberley region including the below.
- $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.
- $9.2 million for the development of a comprehensive AOD service for young people that includes on Country programs, family intervention, co-occurring mental health and AOD support, and links with other existing service providers in the Kimberley.
The State Government also committed $20.1 million through the Royalties for Regions (RfR) Program, 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
As part of the 2019-20 Budget, $9.2 million was allocated for the development of an AOD service for young people in the Kimberley Region.
In 2019, the Commission engaged consultants to develop and co-design a model of service for AOD treatment for young people in the Kimberley. Regional consultations in the Kimberley led to the development of a Service Model Report and Co-Design Summary, which were submitted to the Commission in November 2020.
Download the Service Model Report
Download the Co-Design Summary
In 2023, the Commission initiated a co-design process to finalise the Kimberley Youth AOD Service in partnership with the Kimberley Aboriginal Regional Governance Group (ARGG), which included further community engagement and assessment against the current youth priorities and needs in the Kimberley.
Milliya Rumurra Aboriginal Corporation (MRAC) was contracted to assess and prioritise the findings and recommendations from the Service Model Report, to inform the development of a revised and community-informed youth AOD service model.
The final Kimberley Youth AOD Service Report (inclusive of a Consultation Summary Report) received in-principle endorsement from the ARGG in early 2026.
The final Kimberely AOD Youth Service Report proposes a new service model that reprioritises the findings of the previous report, recommending a change from a treatment approach to a prevention-based model, focussing on AOD education, harm reduction and development of the local workforce. The new service model focuses on culturally grounded and community-led service delivery through engagement with young people and the establishment of governance structures that enables place-based Aboriginal-led decision making throughout the Kimberley region.
The Kimberley Youth AOD Service Report will guide the commissioning, implementation and delivery of a Kimberley Youth AOD Service. The Commission will continue to work in collaboration with the ARGG on the approach to procurement and delivery on the Kimberley Youth AOD Service.
Page last updated6 August 2026
