The McGowan Government will establish a new Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Council to strengthen collaboration between the community services sector, government and consumers, carers and families.
The Council will contribute to the reform of the Western Australian mental health, alcohol and other drug system, by providing high level leadership on topics such as:
- developing more person-centred care across services;
- catering for co-occurring mental health, alcohol and other drug issues; and
- integrating the sector.
It will ensure lived experience is central to policy development and service delivery and will be chaired by the Mental Health Commissioner.
The membership will include representation from community services peak bodies, major strategic advisory groups, the WA Primary Health Alliance, as well as consumers and carers/families.
The new Council will complement the work of the Mental Health Executive Committee, announced in March, which will bring together mental health leadership from across the public hospital system.
The Council and the committee will be supported by the new Chief Medical Officer, Mental Health to strengthen clinical system-wide safety and quality considerations in mental health, alcohol and other drugs.
Expressions of interest will be sought for the positions of consumer representative and carer/family representative. The successful applicants to these two positions will sit on both the Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Council and the Mental Health Executive Committee.
Visit https://myservices.org.au/ for more information about the mental health services available across Western Australia.
Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in a crisis situation or BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 for free counselling.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
"This is part of a new governance structure for Western Australia in mental health, alcohol and other drugs - bringing the sector together and providing the capability for a unified approach to change.
"Ensuring lived experience is at the forefront of the reform is a key focus for the McGowan Government and this new Council will drive that forward.
"Community services play an essential role in providing Western Australians with mental health, alcohol and other drug issues with treatment and supports - outside of a hospital setting. We need a strong community services sector, that can help people recover and manage their mental health, alcohol and other drug issues in the communities where they live."
