- $88.1 million Cook Labor Government investment expands mental health capacity at Fremantle Hospital
- WA's first 24/7 mental health crisis centre provides a dedicated alternative to emergency department care for mental health
- The new 40-bed mental health facility expands access to specialist care
Western Australia's first 24/7 dedicated mental health crisis centre is now open as part of the Cook Labor Government's $88.1 million expansion of Fremantle Hospital, boosting access to specialist mental health care.
The expansion significantly boosts capacity across the public health system, with 40 more mental health beds and greater access to specialist mental health care for the community.
At the heart of the expansion is the new mental health crisis centre, offering a dedicated alternative to an emergency department for people experiencing mental health distress.
The purpose-built crisis centre will provide prompt assessment, intervention, and support, while adding capacity to the public health system and helping ensure Western Australians can access the care they need, when they need it.
The crisis centre will also support new referral pathways for ambulance services, police, and hospital emergency departments, improving access to mental health care and helping reduce demand on emergency departments in Perth's southern suburbs.
The redeveloped facility also includes a new neurobehavioural unit for older adults, 10 open beds and a 20-bed secure mental health ward, contributing to 40 more beds across the service, as well as neurostimulation therapy.
Together, these new services will improve access to care, support earlier intervention, and strengthen connections across hospital, crisis, and community-based mental health services.
The Fremantle Hospital expansion forms part of the Cook Labor Government's record $5.5 billion investment in health infrastructure, upgrading and building new hospitals across WA.
As stated by Health and Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"We've been clear about our government's commitment to improving access to the healthcare Western Australians need, when they need it.
"WA's first 24/7 mental health crisis centre offers an important alternative to an emergency department for people experiencing mental health distress, ensuring they can receive prompt support in a purpose-built environment.
"Not only are we expanding capacity so more Western Australians can access mental health care, we're also reforming and improving how that care is delivered so we can achieve better health outcomes for patients.
"This state-of-the-art facility is our commitment in action."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"WA's first 24/7 mental health crisis centre in Fremantle offers an alternative to an emergency department for people with urgent mental health needs.
"This $88.1 million investment at Fremantle Hospital is delivering more mental health beds, more specialist services, and a more modern, therapeutic environment for people to access the care they need.
"I'm proud of this significant investment in mental health and in Fremantle."
