THOUGH both the Federal and State budgets were handed down last week, the sector does not know whether either level of government will commit to the long term investment in mental health mapped out for them in their respective ten-year blueprints for reform.
WAAMH welcomed the State government’s investment of $26M in the new suicide prevention strategy, but this was the only new investment in the budget's four year estimates for the essential community support services identified in the 10 Year Plan.
No certainty was provided for federally funded community mental health services beyond 2016 in the Federal budget either.
As part of WA understanding federal impacts, we were delighted to welcome Mental Health Australia CEO Frank Quinlan to Perth this month to hold a conversation by invitation with our members on mental health from a national perspective. It provided great insight into the NDIS, federal funding and the National Review of Mental Health Services.
News also this month was the selection of a single provider for the three Primary Health Network regions in WA. This provides an opportunity for the State and Commonwealth governments to work together, alongside people living with mental illness and their carers, service providers, and NGOs, to build the mental health system Australia expects.
Rod Astbury
Chief Executive Officer
WA Association for Mental Health