The State’s infant, child and adolescent mental health system will be overhauled to deliver significantly better outcomes for Western Australian families.
The McGowan Government has committed to implementing all 32 recommendations of the Ministerial Taskforce into Public Mental Health Services for Infants, Children and Adolescents in WA Final Report.
The independent taskforce was a recommendation of the Chief Psychiatrist’s inquiry into the tragic death of 13-year-old Kate Savage in 2020.
The taskforce was charged with investigating the pressures and demands on the State’s mental health system and reporting to the Government on how to ensure children receive the treatment and care they need, when they need it.
The final report, released today, provides the framework to transform the mental health system into a contemporary, evidence-informed model of service and models of care that meet the needs of children in WA from the day they are born through to their 18th birthday.
The McGowan Government is fully committed to implementing all 32 recommendations and to the State-wide, system-wide reform of infant, child and adolescent mental health services.
The most immediate challenges will be addressed through the 2022-23 Budget process, which will inform the next critical steps to be prioritised.
This is an extremely significant body of work which the Government is committed to progressing in a targeted way, addressing both immediate need and longer-term outcomes, as recommended by the taskforce.
The report recognises the need to reshape the system using a phased-in approach to ensure community care is at the centre of the child, adolescent and mental health system, and to prioritise early intervention.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“I’d like to acknowledge the taskforce for their extremely important work and the valuable insight of the many hundreds of children, parents, carers, families and clinicians who contributed to its findings and recommendations.
“Thank you to everyone involved, including Chair Ms Robyn Kruk AO and the more than 100 members of the lived experience, clinical and interagency expert advisory groups.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the family of Kate Savage and acknowledge Kate’s parents Meron and Larry for their significant courage and commitment to bringing about much-needed change.
“This process has been one of true collaboration.
“The Taskforce has given us very clear guidance to support wide-ranging reform and the McGowan Government is fully committed to implementing all of the recommendations in the final report.
“It will require significant reform – a whole-of-government approach and working collaboratively with the Commonwealth because of the very important role it plays in providing critical primary healthcare services.
“By working together, we can make a real difference and improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our children.”
