Western Australia’s Mental Health Commissioner, Timothy Marney has resigned from his role after five years leading the Mental Health Commission.
During his time as Commissioner, Mr Marney has been instrumental in significantly improving the way the State Government delivers mental health services across the State. Mr Marney has decided to leave his position to achieve a better balance between work and life.
One of Mr Marney’s many accomplishments is the development of the 10-year plan for Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Services; this is the roadmap for service development in Western Australia. He has also built the Mental Health Commission as an organisation, equipped with the right people and relationships to successfully implement the 10-year plan.
The last five years has seen a period of expansion in demand for mental health services. During this time, Mr Marney has managed a 25 per cent increase in State funding to deliver a range of new and advanced services that have improved outcomes for mental health consumers.
Other notable achievements include establishing community step up/step down mental health services in Rockingham and Albany, with four more of these residential centres on track in Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Karratha.
In collaboration with the WA Police Force, Mr Marney also developed the award-winning Police Mental Health Co-Response teams.
Mr Marney will depart his post on June 14, 2019.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
“I would like to acknowledge Timothy Marney for his professionalism and dedication to his role as Mental Health Commissioner. In my time as Minister for Mental Health, I have relied upon and valued Mr Marney’s advice on many occasions.
“I would like to thank Mr Marney for his tireless work in mental health over the past five years, it is a relentless and difficult role and he achieved many great outcomes. I wish him all the best in his future career.”
