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Full Government Response to the Western Australian Methamphetamine Taskforce Report

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Mental Health Commission

PO Box X2299Perth Business Centre WA 6847

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Suggested citation

Mental Health Commission (2019). Full Government Response to the Western Australian Methamphetamine Taskforce Report. Mental Health Commission, Government of Western Australia.

Disclaimer

The information in this document has been included in good faith and is based on sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time the document was developed. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within is accurate and up to date, the Mental Health Commission and the State of Western Australia do not accept liability or responsibility for the content of the document or for any consequences arising from its use.

I am pleased to release the Full Government Response (the Response) to the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Final Report (the Taskforce Report). This Response reaffirms the State Government’s commitment to addressing issues associated with methamphetamine use in Western Australia.

The Methamphetamine Action Plan and subsequent Taskforce Report align with Our Priorities for A Safer Community, promoting the overall aim of reducing illicit drug use in Western Australia. The State Government is committed to achieving Our Priorities and continues to work with stakeholders to ensure collective action to establish effective responses to methamphetamine related issues.

Whilst it is pleasing to see a decrease in methamphetamine and illicit drug use in Western Australia, there is no room for complacency. From 2017-18 to 2021-22, the State Government has invested $171.4 million in the implementation of the Methamphetamine Action Plan and related initiatives to reduce demand, harm and supply.

The development of the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce (the Taskforce) was a commitment of the Methamphetamine Action Plan. The subsequent report acknowledged the State Government’s work to combat methamphetamine and made 57 recommendations relating to education, intervention, treatment and support services, reducing harm and use, meeting regional needs, pathways following treatment, cross-sector collaboration and evaluation.

I would like to acknowledge the members of the Taskforce and the work that was undertaken to understand and communicate the complexities of methamphetamine use in such a comprehensive report, and thank the members of the Western Australian community that participated in the consultation process, providing valuable insights to the Taskforce.

Acknowledgement also goes to the Mental Health Commission for leading the development of the Response. I commend the continued commitment from the agencies represented on the Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officers’ Working Group, chaired by the Mental Health Commission, to ensure the Response is coordinated, evidence-based and reflects best practice.

The Response represents our ongoing commitment to provide more help for people and their families. We have funded more crisis support, more prevention, education and harm reduction services; and more workers so that people can access the help they need, when and where they need it.

HON ROGER COOK MLADEPUTY PREMIER | MINISTER FOR HEALTH; MENTAL HEALTH

NOTE FROM THE DEPUTY PREMIER

Full Government Response to the Western Australian Methamphetamine Taskforce Report 1

The Full Government Response (the Response) to the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Final Report (the Taskforce Report) adopts an across government approach in addressing methamphetamine related harms.

The complexity of methamphetamine use and the recognition of the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce (the Taskforce) that it must be viewed as a health and community issue has been acknowledged. While law enforcement based initiatives are essential in tackling methamphetamine use, they cannot stand alone. The State Government has committed to implement a range of initiatives across supply, demand and harm reduction in order to minimise the harm to individuals, families and the community caused by methamphetamine use.

These initiatives will see the expansion of treatment for priority groups in the regions (including more beds), the development of safe places and increased support for individuals and families in crisis, an investment in the alcohol and other drug workforce to ensure the maintenance of high quality support services, and a continued focus on education, prevention and harm reduction.

The Response has been developed in line with the National Drug Strategy 2017-2026, the Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015-2025 and the Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Interagency Strategy 2018-2022.

The work of the Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officer’s Working Group has ensured that the Response is founded on an ongoing commitment across sectors to develop an integrated approach to preventing methamphetamine problems from occurring in the first place, intervening early before problems become entrenched, and providing treatment and support services for those who need it.

I would like to thank those who have contributed to the development of the Response. The Mental Health Commission is committed to working in collaboration with other Government departments and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for the community in relation to methamphetamine related harm.

The release of this Response marks a critical step towards the continued development and implementation of initiatives to prevent and reduce methamphetamine related harm in Western Australia.

TIMOTHY MARNEYMENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER |CHAIR OF METHAMPHETAMINE ACTION PLAN SENIOR OFFICERS WORKING GROUP

NOTE FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER

2 Full Government Response to the Western Australian Methamphetamine Taskforce Report

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Note from the Deputy Premier 1

Note from the Mental Health Commissioner 2

Acronyms List 4

Executive Summary 5

Background 6

GOVERNMENT PROGRESS TO DATE 8

INITIATIVES DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORT 9

STATE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ALL TASKFORCE RECOMMENDATIONS 16

GOVERNANCE, IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING 17

APPENDIX

1. Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce 18

2. Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officers Working Group 19

3. Western Australian Methamphetamine Action Plan 2017: Supporting Communities and Families 20

4. State Government Response to all Taskforce Recommendations 23


ACRONYMS LISTAOD Alcohol and Other Drugs

CaLD Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

DASSOG Drug and Alcohol Strategic Senior Officers’ Group

DGIG Directors General Implementation Group

DoE Department of Education

DPC Department of the Premier and Cabinet

ERC Expenditure Review Committee

GDHR Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships

LGBTI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex

MAP Methamphetamine Action Plan

MAP SOWG Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officer’s Working Group

MHC Mental Health Commission

MHOA Mental Health Observation Area

NSEP Needle and Syringe Exchange Program

NSP Needle and Syringe Programs

SARA Stabilisation and Referral Areas

THASP Transitional Housing and Support Program

WAADIS Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Interagency Strategy 2018-2022

WANADA Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Methamphetamine use continues to be a significant concern within the Western Australian community. Its effects are far-reaching and the impacts are often devastating for the individuals themselves, their families and communities.

The Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016 shows a significant decrease in the percentage of Western Australians using methamphetamines (from 3.8% in 2013 to 2.7% in 2016). However in Western Australia, methamphetamine use has been consistently higher than national levels (2.7% compared to 1.4% nationally). In 2016, methamphetamine became the drug of most serious concern to the general community, overtaking alcohol and more than doubling the level of concern in 2013 (16.1% to 40%).

In an effort to reduce methamphetamine use and related harms in Western Australia, the State Government invested $171.4 million in a range of initiatives targeting prevention and early intervention, treatment and support, and law enforcement as part of the Methamphetamine Action Plan.

The Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce (the Taskforce) was created as an across government initiative to gather further information on the impact of methamphetamine use in Western Australia and provide advice to the government on opportunities to improve service delivery, increase cross-sector collaboration and measure performance.

The Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Final Report (the Taskforce Report) was released on 26 November 2018, providing 57 recommendations to government. Given the prior funding of initiatives related to law enforcement and supply reduction, the recommendations of the Taskforce Report primarily focus on harm and demand reduction. The immediate government response to the Taskforce Report outlined six key actions that could be immediately progressed in responding to those in crisis. These actions build on, and complement, the range of alcohol and other drug, mental health programs and services currently being implemented in Western Australia.

The Full Government Response to the Taskforce Report (the Response) has been developed by the Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officer’s Working Group agencies, led by the Mental Health Commission. Development was guided by the ultimate aim of providing more help for individuals and families impacted by methamphetamine use. The subsequent investment of $42.5 million into initiatives funded in the 2019-20 budget process reflect the State Government’s commitment to providing more support to individuals and families in crisis, more help when and where it is needed, more workers to provide support and more prevention, education and harm reduction programs. The Response aligns to the National Drug Strategy 2017-2026 framework of harm minimisation: supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction; Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Interagency Strategy 2018-2022; Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015-2025; and the National Ice Action Strategy 2015.


BACKGROUND

1 The use of the term ‘Aboriginal’ within this document refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

2 Government of Western Australia, Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Final Report (2018). Published by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia, November 2018. Available from www.dpc.wa.gov.au.

As part of the 2017 election, the Government committed to a state-wide, integrated Methamphetamine Action Plan (MAP) to reduce demand, supply and harm through the coordinated implementation of initiatives across Government. This included the establishment of the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce (the Taskforce) on 26 June 2017. The key responsibilities of the Taskforce were to provide advice to the government on how programs could be best delivered and targeted to the areas of greatest need, to identify opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, and to advise on the best ways to measure the performance and success of the Government’s initiatives. Information regarding the Taskforce appointment and Terms of Reference are provided at Appendix 1. On 5 July 2018, the Directors General Implementation Group (DGIG) established the Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officers’ Working Group (MAP SOWG) to develop this Full Government Response (the Response) to the recommendations generated by the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Final Report (the Taskforce Report). Further information on the MAP SOWG is provided at Appendix 2.

The MAP and the Taskforce Report recommendations align with Our Priorities: Sharing Prosperity. Our Priority for A Safer Community and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to prevention, early intervention, and targeted treatment in order to significantly reduce illicit drug use by 2022. Support of MAP related initiatives also strengthens the commitment to reducing youth reoffending as part of the commitment to the development of A Safer Community as methamphetamine use can be a motivating factor for other criminal behaviour. A reduction in illicit drug use, including methamphetamine use, will lower the impact of short term risk and ultimately contribute to the prevention of long term health and other related harms in the Western Australian community.

Taskforce Report In order to explore the impact of methamphetamine use in Western Australia, the Taskforce engaged in both research and broad consultation with individuals, families, communities and service providers, highlighting the complexity of methamphetamine use in our community. The Taskforce acknowledged that law enforcement measures are critical to reducing the supply of methamphetamine but the understanding that there is an indisputable link between disadvantage, ill-health and problematic drug use dictates that methamphetamine use must also be approached as a health and community issue.

Released on 26 November 2018, the Taskforce Report included 57 recommendations to government across nine broad themes: helping people stay away from methamphetamine in the first place, intervening early to prevent entrenched use, providing treatment and support services for those seeking help, reducing the harm associated with methamphetamine use, regional communities, helping groups vulnerable to high rates of methamphetamine use, helping to rebuild a person’s life after methamphetamine, cross-sector collaboration and coordination, and measuring performance.

The recommendations in the Taskforce Report represent independent advice to the State Government, with a Taskforce membership constituting individuals with experience across health, justice, Aboriginal1 health issues, and local government. The Taskforce has “deliberately sought to challenge current thinking and encourage debate about taking a different approach” in their development of the recommendations2.


Harm Minimisation Framework The Response to the Taskforce Report is closely aligned to the harm minimisation framework (Figure 1) that underpins the National Drug Strategy 2017-2026. This framework promotes a balanced approach across the three pillars of harm minimisation: demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction, in order to prevent and minimise the health, social and economic consequences of substance use on individuals, families and the community3.

Harm MinimisationBuilding safe, healthy and resilient communities through preventing,

responding to and reducing alcohol, tobacco and other drug related health, social and economic harms.

Demand Reduction

Preventing the uptake and/or delaying the onset of use of alcohol, tobacco

and other drugs; reducing the misuse of alcohol,

tobacco and other drugs in the community; and supporting people to

recover from dependence through evidence-informed

treatment.

Supply ReductionPreventing, stopping,

disrupting or otherwise reducing the production and supply of illegal drugs; and controlling, managing and/or regulating the availability

of legal drugs.

Harm ReductionReducing the adverse

health, social and economic consequences of the use of drugs, for the user, their

families and the wider community.

Figure 1 – Harm Minimisation Framework4

3 Australian Government. Department of Health. National Drug Strategy 2017-2026. Canberra: The Department; 2017. p 1. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] Available from https://beta.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-drug-strategy-2017-2026

4 Based on Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Health) material.


GOVERNMENT PROGRESS TO DATE The State Government has already committed $171.4 million to the implementation of its MAP and related initiatives to prevent and reduce methamphetamine related harms in Western Australia. These initiatives build on the current and comprehensive range of programs and services delivered including prevention and early intervention, treatment and support, law enforcement, and are supported through coordination, planning and evaluation. These initiatives are aligned to the MAP: Supporting Communities and Families (Appendix 3), as well as a range of other cross agency initiatives. Key achievements to date are outlined in Figure 2.

93TREATMENT BEDS

PLAN FOR TREATMENT SERVICES

POLICE ROAD SIDE TESTING

WA’S FIRST ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PRISON FOR WOMEN

TOUGHER PENALTIES

1.650 TONNE OF METH SEIZED TO DATE

across WA including 49 for the South West

in the Kimberleydelivered with a second facility for men in progress

for traffickers

Meth Border Force established with a record Introduced mental health

EMERGENCY CENTRES

WHAT’S ALREADY UNDERWAY

Figure 2 – Methamphetamine Action Plan Existing Government Commitments


On 26 November 2018, the State Government provided an immediate response to the Taskforce Report outlining key actions that could be immediately progressed in responding to those in crisis; highlighted in Figure 3. While the immediate response provides important initial actions in addressing key recommendations of the Taskforce Report, it is recognised that methamphetamine use is complex, requiring sustained effort across Government and across sectors including non-government service providers and the community. The Response will include a range of approaches across supply, demand and harm reduction.

24 HOUR HELPLINE one stop shop to better support individuals and families

EXPAND police and mental health joint crisis response

Prioritise and target SCHOOL BASED EDUCATION

Establish a mental health emergency centre in

PERTH’S EASTERN SUBURBSComprehensive whole of

GOVERNMENT RESPONSEto methamphetamine use

Trial compulsory

CRISIS INTERVENTION

EXTRA INITIATIVES BEING IMPLEMENTED

Figure 3 – Methamphetamine Action Plan Immediate Government Response


INITIATIVES DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORTA range of initiatives related to the Taskforce Report recommendations have been funded through the 2019-20 budget process, extending the state government’s commitment to preventing and reducing methamphetamine related harm in Western Australia. These initiatives provide an important step in achieving Our Priority for A Safer Community, supporting the reduction of illicit drug use through the implementation of approaches to reduce methamphetamine supply, demand and harm for individuals, families and the community.

These initiatives will provide more help when and where it is needed through access to more prevention, education, harm reduction and quality treatment services for people using methamphetamine and their families.



TOUGHER PENALTIES for traffickers

More Support for Individuals and Families in Crisis

More Help When and Where it’s Needed

More Workers to Provide Support

More Education, Prevention and Harm Reduction

68,911 roadside drug tests completed

1.650 TONNE OF METH seized to date

Meth Border Force established with a record

Invested by the McGowan Government to strengthen its METHAMPHETAMINE ACTION PLAN 2019-20$42.5M

BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES

EXPANSION of police and mental health joint crisis response across all metropolitan areas

ADDITIONAL low medical withdrawal beds

STRONG SPIRIT STRONG MIND

SCHOOL DRUG EDUCATION AND ROAD AWARENESS PROGRAM

CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTRE IN MIDLAND

PEER EDUCATION PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION of harm reduction measures in the South West and Great Southern

PLANNING for expansion of the police and mental health joint crisis response program into regional areas and for those experiencing alcohol and other drug related crisis

EXPANSION OF SERVICES for people in the Kimberley including a comprehensive youth service

AOD FRONTLINE WORKFORCE TRAINING

AWARENESS RAISINGof prevention strategies

Expansion of theTRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT PROGRAM

Planning for SHORT TERM SAFE PLACES for critical intervention

This builds on the McGowan Government’s total investment towards its Methamphetamine Action Plan which already includes

enforcement initiatives that disrupt supply.

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STATE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ALL TASKFORCE RECOMMENDATIONSThe Taskforce Report outlines 57 recommendations focused on education, intervention, treatment and support services, reducing harm and use, meeting regional needs, pathways following treatment, cross-sector collaboration and evaluation. The State Government supports, supports in principles or notes 56 of the 57 recommendations.

METHAMPHETAMINE TASKFORCE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS57 SUPPORTED,

SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE, OR NOTED

56While initiatives to provide more help for people and their families described above are funded for implementation from 2019-20, Appendix 4 outlines the cross-government response and commitment across all Taskforce Report recommendations.

Responding to Complex Issues in a Comprehensive Way Addressing the harms relating to methamphetamine use is complex, including a number of interrelated individual and environmental factors. It is recognised that sustained and comprehensive across-government effort is required across the domains of harm minimisation: supply, demand and harm reduction.

Whilst the State Government significantly invests in law enforcement to reduce the supply of methamphetamine in Western Australia, focus continues to be directed towards addressing drug use primarily as a health issue. This is consistent with the approach of the Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Interagency Strategy 2018-2022 (the WAADIS) that aims to prevent and reduce the adverse impacts of alcohol and other drugs in the Western Australian community through the core elements of:

w Prevention first: Through a range of evidence-informed prevention initiatives, prevent illicit drug use and harms, legal substances that are inappropriately used and associated harm, harmful alcohol consumption, and associated impacts; and

w Support for those who need it: Through evidence-based, effective treatment and support strategies, reduce use and associated impacts of illicit drugs, legal substances that are inappropriately used and harmful alcohol consumption.

Due to the complexities of issues, the State Government acknowledges that it is through the combined and comprehensive efforts of government, the non-government sector and the community that significant gains in preventing and reducing alcohol and other drug-related harm may be best achieved.


GOVERNANCE, IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORINGThe Mental Health Commission (MHC) is the State Government agency responsible for alcohol and other drug strategies and services in Western Australia and is accountable to the Minister for Mental Health. As such, the implementation, monitoring and review of these strategies and services are led by the MHC in collaboration with other government agencies through the Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategic Senior Officers’ Group (DASSOG). The purpose of DASSOG is to provide a whole-of-government approach to addressing drug and alcohol issues within Western Australia in line with the WAADIS.

Members of the DASSOG consist of government representatives with a range of portfolio areas as follows:

w Department of Communities (child protection and family services; housing; local governments and communities including youth)

w Department of Education (School Drug Education and Road Aware)

w Department of Health

w Department of Justice (Attorney General; corrections)

w Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (including multi-cultural interests; racing, gaming and liquor)

w Mental Health Commission (mental health and alcohol and other drugs)

w Western Australia Police Force (police; road safety)

It is through the combined efforts of the across-agency portfolio responsibilities outlined above and the introduction of whole-of-government targets that outcomes for the community will continue to be improved.

The DASSOG works closely with the Community Safety and Family Support Cabinet Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee), which is chaired by the Deputy Premier, the Hon Roger Cook, with membership consisting of the Attorney General, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Corrective Services, Minister for Education, and Minister for Police. The aim of the Sub-Committee is to direct and oversee integrated across-government policies including the MAP. The Sub-Committee works to identify opportunities for co-ordination and collaboration across policies and to ensure that the policies are being delivered as part of the Government’s broader policy goals. The Sub-Committee works closely with the DGIG to oversee the implementation of these policies.

In keeping with the recognised need to engage at the local level, consideration will be given to how best to involve local governments and communities as partners in the implementation of the initiatives aligning with the Response.

ReportingAgencies represented on the DASSOG are responsible for reporting against the WAADIS performance measures, annual key milestones and achievements through Agency Support Plans that more specifically outline their portfolio activities aligned to the goals of the WAADIS. As the Taskforce Report recommendations and the government responses provided align with both the WAADIS and the Premier’s Priorities, in addition to other alcohol and other drug related strategy and policy, initiatives developed in response to the Taskforce Report will be integrated into agency reporting through DASSOG. Where an agency is not currently represented on DASSOG and has initiatives to be addressed as part of the Response to the Taskforce Report recommendations, additional relevant reporting consistent with that of other DASSOG agencies will be negotiated.

DASSOG reports will be available on the Mental Health Commission website: www.mhc.wa.gov.au.


APPENDIX 1 - METHAMPHETAMINE ACTION PLAN TASKFORCE

Taskforce Appointment The Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce (the Taskforce) was commissioned by the McGowan Government to provide advice and recommendations on what more could be done to reduce methamphetamine demand, supply and harm in Western Australia.

The Taskforce was chaired by Mr Ron Alexander and included experts in the field of alcohol and other drug use, Aboriginal health, policing and regional development.

Terms of Reference

MembersThe Taskforce members and Chair will be endorsed by the Community Safety and Family Support Cabinet Sub Committee (the Sub-Committee) and approved by State Cabinet.

FunctionThe Sub-Committee will direct the Taskforce to provide advice and recommendations on specific issues relating to the implementation of the Methamphetamine Action Plan.

The Taskforce will respond to Sub-Committee requests for advice, identify opportunities for improvement, identify opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, and advise on the development of measurable performance indicators.

The Taskforce may be required to establish time-limited advisory groups in order to obtain advice on specific issues or priority population groups. Advisory group members who identify as consumers, family members and/or carers will be offered participation payments and reimbursement for out of pocket expenses.

The Taskforce will operate for the life of the Sub-Committee (unless directed otherwise) and will meet quarterly. Taskforce members are invited as individuals, rather than as representatives of their organisation and will keep in confidence all information related to confidential Cabinet deliberations. The Taskforce will receive direction from, and report to, the Sub-Committee.

Secretariat support for the Taskforce will be provided by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Mental Health Commission.


APPENDIX 2 - METHAMPHETAMINE ACTION PLAN SENIOR OFFICER’S WORKING GROUPThe Methamphetamine Action Plan Senior Officer’s Working Group (MAP SOWG) was established by the Directors General Implementation Group (DGIG) to develop an immediate and subsequent full government response to the Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Final Report (the Report).

Reducing the supply, demand and harm arising from methamphetamine is a complex issue requiring multi-agency and coordinated joint agency action. The MAP SOWG is Chaired by the Mental Health Commissioner and consists of representatives from:

w Department of Communities

w Department of Education

w Department of Health

w Department of Justice

w Department of the Premier and Cabinet

w Department of Treasury

w Mental Health Commission

w Office of Multicultural Interests

w School Curriculum and Standards Authority

w WA Police Force

w Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

Through the Chair, the MAP SOWG reports to and through the DGIG to the Community Safety and Family Support Cabinet Sub-Committee.

The Department of Treasury is represented on the MAP SOWG to support the development of initiatives and to provide advice on managing the financial implications arising, including Expenditure Review Committee (ERC) consideration.

In reviewing the Taskforce’s recommendations, the MAP SOWG have given due consideration to key areas such as prevention and anti-stigma, harm reduction, the specific needs of those in regional and remote locations, the requirement for culturally appropriate service provision, overall access to treatment, support and accommodation, system navigation and other crisis response options. Critical issues such as addressing the needs of those with co-occurring alcohol and other drug, and mental health issues have also been considered.


APPENDIX 3 – WESTERN AUSTRALIAN METHAMPHETAMINE ACTION PLAN 2017: SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES

State Government Commitment Status

Invest an additional $2 million per annum into treatment facilities to respond to early intervention and severe methamphetamine dependence.

$16 million over four years (2018-19 to 2021-22) has been allocated to the Mental Health Commission (MHC) for the continuation of 60 existing treatment beds for residential rehabilitation and withdrawal services. MHC has negotiated contract extensions with existing service providers.

Expand specialist drug services into rural and regional areas of need and open two specialised rehabilitation centres, one in the South West to cater for the long withdrawal and recovery period and high relapse rates associated with methamphetamine use. Services will be flexible and holistic.

$9.31 million over four years (2018-19 to 2021-22) has been allocated from the Royalties for Regions Program to the Mental Health Commission to establish up to 33 beds for alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation and low medical withdrawal services in the South West. Nineteen of these beds opened in January 2019, with the provision of the remaining beds currently being negotiated.

Expand specialist drug services into rural and regional areas of need and open two specialised rehabilitation centres one in the Kimberley to cater for the long withdrawal and recovery period and high relapse rates associated with methamphetamine use. Services will be flexible and holistic.

$200,000 from the Royalties for Regions Program was allocated to the Mental Health Commission to identify and undertake planning and consultation required to address the gaps in alcohol and other drug treatment services in the Kimberley in 2017-18. Consultation has been undertaken and release of the subsequent report is planned for mid-2019.

Introduce a Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA) at Royal Perth Hospital emergency department for those that require assistance and close supervision for up to 72 hours.

The State Government has provided $11.8 million from 2017-18 to 2019-20 to the Department of Health for a Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA) and an authorised Mental Health Unit at Royal Perth Hospital.

These facilities will provide dedicated areas for mental health consumers with more complex issues who present to the Emergency Department, and will improve the patient flow by fast-tracking individuals to the right therapeutic setting.

The designs for both services have been developed and construction of the MHOA is on track to commence mid-2019.



Work with drug and alcohol education agencies to ensure WA schools have the most up to date programs to better inform our young people.

Additional funding of $660,000 (from 2017-18 to 2018-19) was provided to the Mental Health Commission to expand school drug education programs through those provided by the School Drug Education and Road Aware program. A continuation of funding for four years (2019-20 to 2022-23) has been sought via the 2019-20 budget process.

Ice Breakers Program. Funding of $360,000 was provided for a two-year trial of the Ice Breakers Program with Albany Police and Citizens Youth Club to support people moving from methamphetamine dependence into recovery. The program will be evaluated at the conclusion of the trial.

Two dedicated drug and alcohol rehabilitation prisons from partitioning existing facilities, with increased drug dog detection and urinalysis and greater post release supervision of short term prisoners.

The State Government has approved the Department of Justice to establish of two dedicated alcohol and other drug rehabilitation prisons (one for women at Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison, and one for men) to assist in breaking the cycle of alcohol and other drug-related crime with $9.6 million in capital funding.

The women’s Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison commenced operation in 2018, with the men’s rehabilitation prison to be established as a part of the project to build four new units (512 beds) at Casuarina Prison (currently underway).

An additional $2.1 million for dedicated drug testing capabilities was allocated from 2017-18 to 2021-22.

Establish a Prisoner Triage Unit in courts, staffed by 10 people to assess short term, non-violent prisoners for suitability to enter Rehab Prisons.

The prisoner triage unit operates from Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison as a mobile outreach unit based on an individual assessment model with $3.0 million in funding from 2017-18 to 2021-22. The triage unit for Casuarina will be developed as part of the service model for the Casuarina Expansion project which is underway.

Investigate ways to ‘fast-track’ guardianship and administration applications for methamphetamine users who are not able to make their own decisions and need help managing their affairs and rehabilitation.

A robust assessment of all guardianship and administration applications is undertaken by the State Administrative Tribunal on a case-by-case basis to determine the need to fast track applications. This equally applies to guardianship and administration applications for methamphetamine users.

If the assessment determines a need to expedite a guardianship and administration application for methamphetamine users based on risks to the person or their estate, the application is fast-tracked.



Establish a Meth Border Force within WA Police of 100 officers to stop methamphetamine coming into Western Australia, with an additional 100 sworn officers.

$104.1 million has been allocated across five years (2017-18 to 2021-22) for an additional 100 sworn officers to establish a Meth Border Force within WA Police, to stop meth coming into Western Australia. Delivery is well underway with 100 police officer positions and 20 unsworn officer positions created.

Increase the maximum penalty for meth traffickers to life imprisonment.

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Methylamphetamine Offences) Bill 2017 was introduced into Parliament on 16 May 2016. The Methylamphetamine Offences Bill 2017 was passed in Parliament on 16 August 2017.

Ensure WA Police have the resources to significantly increase the volume of roadside alcohol and drug testing of WA drivers.

Police resources of $4.8 million has been allocated to increase the volume of roadside alcohol and other drug testing, to conduct 40,000 roadside drug tests from 2017-18 to 2021-22. WA Police Force achieved the target number of tests for 2017-18 and is on track to achieve the 2018-19 targets.

Establish the MAP Taskforce to provide advice to the Sub-Committee on the implementation of the MAP.

The Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce was announced on 26 June 2017.

The Taskforce’s Report has been completed and presented to the State Government. This report was released on 26 November 2018.


APPENDIX 4 – STATE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ALL TASKFORCE RECOMMENDATIONSWith the ultimate aim of preventing and reducing the adverse impacts of methamphetamine use in the Western Australian community, agency responses to the recommendations will be implemented, subject to Government fiscal capacity and regular budgetary processes, as part of an across-government approach.

The across-agency agreed responses, which have been applied to each recommendation noted in the Taskforce Report, are as below.

Response Definition

Supported All elements of the recommendation are supported by the State Government.

Supported in Principle The State Government generally supports the intent or merit of the recommendation, but does not necessarily support the method for achieving the recommendation; and/or additional funding will be required to implement the recommendation.

Not Supported This recommendation is not supported by the State Government.

Noted The State Government notes the recommendation.

The following table provides the State Government’s response to each of the Taskforce Report recommendations. Recommendations have been listed by lead agency, in order of most recommendations to least.


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e ha

d liv

ed

expe

rienc

e of

met

ham

phet

amin

e an

d th

eir f

amilie

s in

fron

tline

wor

kfor

ce e

duca

tion

and

trai

ning

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent i

s su

ppor

tive

of th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n an

d th

e st

igm

a as

soci

ated

with

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rugs

incl

udin

g m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use

can

be a

ddre

ssed

thro

ugh

a m

ixtu

re o

f bot

h ne

w a

nd e

xist

ing

initi

ativ

es.

The

gove

rnm

ent r

ecog

nise

s th

e im

port

ance

of t

he r

educ

tion

of s

tigm

a as

soci

ated

with

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

e be

add

ress

ed a

cros

s th

e se

rvic

es

spec

trum

, and

bro

ader

than

just

the

men

tal h

ealth

and

alc

ohol

and

oth

er

drug

sec

tors

.

The

draf

t Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

Men

tal H

ealth

, Alc

ohol

and

Oth

er D

rug

Wor

kfor

ce S

trat

egic

Fra

mew

ork

2019

-202

5 ac

know

ledg

es th

e im

port

ance

of

add

ress

ing

stig

ma

and

disc

rimin

atio

n w

ithin

the

men

tal h

ealth

and

al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

sect

ors,

as

wel

l as

tow

ards

con

sum

er, f

amilie

s an

d ca

rers

acc

essi

ng s

ervi

ces

and

supp

ort a

nd h

as a

cro

ss-a

genc

y go

vern

ance

and

rep

ortin

g st

ruct

ure.

This

rec

omm

enda

tion

will

also

be

addr

esse

d th

roug

h th

e pr

ovis

ion

of

wor

kfor

ce tr

aini

ng, a

nd th

roug

h th

e de

velo

pmen

t of s

peci

fic g

uide

lines

as

soci

ated

with

the

med

ia c

over

age

of a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g re

late

d is

sues

.

9Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on p

rom

otes

po

sitiv

e pe

rson

al s

torie

s of

suc

cess

ful t

reat

men

t to

the

gene

ral p

ublic

and

to th

ose

expe

rienc

ing

prob

lem

atic

or

depe

nden

t use

of m

etha

mph

etam

ine

to a

ddre

ss b

oth

soci

al a

nd s

elf-

stig

ma

and

prom

ote

help

see

king

beh

avio

ur.

Sup

port

ed

Pos

itive

sto

ries

of s

ucce

ssfu

l exp

erie

nces

with

trea

tmen

t and

sup

port

se

rvic

es h

as th

e po

tent

ial t

o no

t onl

y pr

omot

e th

e se

rvic

e be

ing

prov

ided

, but

can

als

o re

duce

bot

h so

cial

and

sel

f-st

igm

a re

gard

ing

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

e an

d re

cove

ry. T

he G

over

nmen

t is

supp

ortiv

e of

this

re

com

men

datio

n an

d w

ill co

ntin

ue to

enc

oura

ge h

elp-

seek

ing

beha

viou

rs

and

shar

e po

sitiv

e st

orie

s am

ongs

t the

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

com

mun

ity.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

10Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on to

wor

k w

ith th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

, the

WA

Prim

ary

Hea

lth

Allia

nce

and

the

Aus

tral

ian

Med

ical

Ass

ocia

tion

(Cou

ncil

of G

ener

al P

ract

ition

ers)

WA

to b

ette

r pr

omot

e th

e us

e of

the

Nex

t Ste

ps C

linic

al A

dvis

ory

Ser

vice

to p

rimar

y he

alth

and

allie

d he

alth

car

e pr

ofes

sion

als.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on a

nd W

A D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

will

wor

k in

col

labo

ratio

n to

de

velo

p in

itiat

ives

to in

crea

se a

cces

s to

met

ham

phet

amin

e re

late

d in

form

atio

n fo

r pr

imar

y an

d al

lied

heal

th c

are

prof

essi

onal

s, a

nd d

evel

op

targ

eted

pat

hway

s to

sup

port

ear

ly in

terv

entio

n in

prim

ary,

sec

onda

ry

and

acut

e ca

re s

ettin

gs, i

n or

der

to b

ette

r su

ppor

t ind

ivid

uals

and

fam

ilies

impa

cted

by

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

e.

11Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on to

wor

k w

ith o

ther

re

leva

nt a

genc

ies

to p

rom

ote

incr

ease

d sc

reen

ing

for

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g co

nditi

ons

for

peop

le

pres

entin

g to

prim

ary

heal

th c

are

prof

essi

onal

s, a

nd

wor

kers

in c

hild

pro

tect

ion

and

com

mun

ity h

ealth

; in

clud

ing

incr

easi

ng a

war

enes

s an

d us

e of

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her

drug

scr

eeni

ng to

ols

and

refe

rral

s to

ap

prop

riate

ser

vice

s.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

the

reco

mm

enda

tion

to p

rom

ote

incr

ease

d aw

aren

ess

and

utilis

atio

n of

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

scre

enin

g to

ols

and

effe

ctiv

e re

ferr

al to

app

ropr

iate

ser

vice

s ac

ross

prim

ary

heal

th,

child

pro

tect

ion

and

com

mun

ity h

ealth

set

tings

. The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on a

nd W

A D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

will

colla

bora

te to

add

ress

this

re

com

men

datio

n, in

clud

ing

cons

ider

atio

n of

app

ropr

iate

scr

eeni

ng to

ols

and

prov

idin

g ta

rget

ed c

omm

unic

atio

n, e

duca

tion

and

trai

ning

to r

elev

ant

orga

nisa

tions

and

hea

lth p

rofe

ssio

nals

.

15O

nce

the

outc

ome

of th

e O

ffice

of t

he A

udito

r G

ener

al a

udit

on T

he A

vaila

bilit

y, A

cces

sibi

lity

and

Effe

ctiv

enes

s of

Tre

atm

ent f

or M

etha

mph

etam

ine

is a

vaila

ble,

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

w

ork

with

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Tre

asur

y an

d th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he P

rem

ier

and

Cab

inet

to d

evel

op

reco

mm

enda

tions

for

Gov

ernm

ent t

o pr

iorit

ise

fund

ing

of a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g tr

eatm

ent s

ervi

ces

to a

ddre

ss im

med

iate

and

unm

et d

eman

d.

Not

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent n

otes

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

Rel

evan

t gov

ernm

ent

agen

cies

are

rev

iew

ing

the

Offi

ce o

f the

Aud

itor

Gen

eral

aud

it on

Th

e A

vaila

bilit

y, A

cces

sibi

lity

and

Effe

ctiv

enes

s of

Tre

atm

ent f

or

Met

ham

phet

amin

e an

d w

ill as

sess

any

res

ultin

g in

itiat

ives

. Any

futu

re

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

rvic

e ex

pans

ion

shou

ld b

e al

igne

d w

ith th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n M

enta

l Hea

lth, A

lcoh

ol a

nd O

ther

Dru

g S

ervi

ces

Pla

n 20

15-2

025,

whi

ch is

und

erpi

nned

by

evid

ence

-bas

ed, n

atio

nally

app

rove

d m

odel

ling

tool

s, th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n A

lcoh

ol a

nd D

rug

Inte

rage

ncy

Str

ateg

y 20

18-2

022

and

inpu

t fro

m th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n co

mm

unity

.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

16Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her

drug

ser

vice

pro

vide

rs to

est

ablis

h a

cent

ralis

ed w

aitli

st d

atab

ase

in o

rder

to b

ette

r id

entif

y an

d ut

ilise

exis

ting

trea

tmen

t cap

acity

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on, i

n pa

rtne

rshi

p w

ith th

e pe

ak b

ody

for

the

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dr

ug s

ecto

r, ha

s al

read

y es

tabl

ishe

d a

syst

em fo

r w

aitli

st m

onito

ring.

The

D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

and

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

will

colla

bora

te

to e

xplo

re w

ays

to m

ore

effe

ctiv

ely

utilis

e w

aitli

st d

ata

and

deve

lop

targ

eted

pa

thw

ays

to s

uppo

rt e

arly

inte

rven

tion

and

appr

opria

te r

efer

ral i

n or

der

to

prov

ide

bett

er a

cces

s to

trea

tmen

t for

indi

vidu

als

and

fam

ilies

impa

cted

by

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

e.

17Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on, i

n co

nsul

tatio

n w

ith

serv

ice

prov

ider

s, p

riorit

ise

addi

tiona

l str

ateg

ies

to fu

rthe

r im

prov

e th

e re

spon

sive

ness

to u

sers

w

ho w

ish

to p

repa

re fo

r an

d un

dert

ake

trea

tmen

t, in

clud

ing:

w

incr

easi

ng th

e us

e of

pee

r w

orke

rs to

‘brid

ge

the

gap’

bet

wee

n w

hen

user

s de

cide

to s

eek

trea

tmen

t and

then

com

men

ce tr

eatm

ent;

w

intr

oduc

ing

wal

k-in

or

no-w

ait s

ervi

ces,

bas

ed

on m

odel

s in

oth

er ju

risdi

ctio

ns, f

or in

corp

orat

ion

into

exi

stin

g se

rvic

es; a

nd

w

use

of e

-Hea

lth a

nd o

ther

str

ateg

ies

that

ena

ble

an im

med

iate

res

pons

e to

use

rs d

urin

g th

e sm

all

win

dow

in w

hich

use

rs d

ecid

e th

ey w

ant t

o ch

ange

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

re a

num

ber

of s

trat

egie

s th

at c

an b

e im

plem

ente

d to

impr

ove

resp

onsi

vene

ss o

f in

divi

dual

s se

ekin

g tr

eatm

ent f

or a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g re

late

d is

sues

. Th

is c

an in

clud

e st

rate

gies

to im

prov

e sy

stem

nav

igat

ion,

ens

urin

g pe

ople

ar

e aw

are

of a

nd c

an a

cces

s ap

prop

riate

ser

vice

s; s

tren

gthe

ning

and

bu

ildin

g th

e ca

paci

ty o

f the

men

tal h

ealth

and

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

wor

kfor

ce e

nabl

ing

the

prov

isio

n of

indi

vidu

alis

ed, h

igh

qual

ity m

enta

l he

alth

and

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

serv

ices

and

pro

gram

s; a

nd th

e pr

omot

ion

of r

elev

ant r

esou

rces

and

onl

ine

tool

s to

sup

port

indi

vidu

als

cons

ider

ing

and

/or

unde

rgoi

ng tr

eatm

ent.

Any

add

ition

al s

trat

egie

s to

furt

her

impr

ove

resp

onsi

vene

ss fo

r us

ers

who

w

ish

to u

nder

take

trea

tmen

t sho

uld

be a

ligne

d w

ith th

e dr

aft W

este

rn

Aus

tral

ia M

enta

l Hea

lth, A

lcoh

ol a

nd O

ther

Dru

g W

orkf

orce

Str

ateg

ic

Fram

ewor

k 20

18-2

025,

whi

ch is

due

for

rele

ase

in th

e fir

st h

alf o

f 201

9.

This

str

ateg

ic fr

amew

ork

prov

ides

evi

denc

e-in

form

ed s

trat

egie

s an

d ac

tions

that

may

be

impl

emen

ted

by a

ran

ge o

f org

anis

atio

ns, i

nclu

ding

go

vern

men

t age

ncie

s an

d no

n-go

vern

men

t org

anis

atio

ns.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

18Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

th

e al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

sect

or to

impr

ove

cons

umer

s’ (i

nclu

ding

use

rs a

nd fa

milie

s)

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

wha

t the

reh

abilit

atio

n pr

oces

s in

volv

es, a

nd r

ehab

ilitat

ion

optio

ns a

vaila

ble

for

cons

umer

s an

d fa

milie

s be

yond

res

iden

tial

reha

bilit

atio

n, in

clud

ing

clar

ifyin

g w

hat i

s in

volv

ed in

pl

anne

d de

tox,

res

iden

tial s

ervi

ces,

and

com

mun

ity

base

d se

rvic

es.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion,

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f the

ava

ilabi

lity

of c

lear

and

acc

urat

e in

form

atio

n ab

out t

he

rang

e of

trea

tmen

t opt

ions

ava

ilabl

e to

sup

port

indi

vidu

als

and

fam

ilies

impa

cted

by

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

e. T

he M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

ill co

ntin

ue to

wor

k w

ith th

e al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

sect

or to

incr

ease

acc

ess

to a

nd a

vaila

bilit

y of

this

info

rmat

ion.

19Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her

drug

ser

vice

pro

vide

rs to

ens

ure

that

se

rvic

e us

ers,

fam

ilies

and

sign

ifica

nt o

ther

s ar

e in

volv

ed in

the

desi

gn a

nd d

eliv

ery

of s

ervi

ces,

in

clud

ing

trai

ning

and

pro

fess

iona

l dev

elop

men

t of

serv

ice

staf

f.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

to w

ork

with

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her

drug

ser

vice

pro

vide

rs in

con

sulta

tion

with

fa

milie

s an

d ot

her

supp

ort p

eopl

e ex

pand

ser

vice

s to

sup

port

thei

r sp

ecifi

c ne

eds.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on h

as a

str

ong

com

mitm

ent t

o be

st p

ract

ice

prin

cipl

es a

nd

prac

tices

in r

elat

ion

to c

onsu

mer

, fam

ily a

nd c

arer

invo

lvem

ent,

co-d

esig

n an

d co

-pro

duct

ion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

has

fina

lised

the

Wor

king

Tog

ethe

r: M

enta

l Hea

lth a

nd A

lcoh

ol a

nd O

ther

Dru

g E

ngag

emen

t Fr

amew

ork

and

Tool

kit 2

018-

2025

, is

impl

emen

ting

the

Fram

ewor

k in

tern

ally

, and

will

supp

ort e

ffect

ive

impl

emen

tatio

n ac

ross

the

men

tal

heal

th a

nd a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

ctor

s as

app

ropr

iate

.

20Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her d

rug

serv

ice

prov

ider

s to

ens

ure

the

outc

omes

of s

ervi

ces

refe

rred

to in

Rec

omm

enda

tion

19 s

peci

fical

ly s

uppo

rt a

nd a

ssis

t fam

ilies

and

othe

rs

who

sup

port

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

ers.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent i

s su

ppor

tive

of th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n, w

hich

will

be a

ddre

ssed

thro

ugh

a co

ntin

ued

com

mitm

ent t

o su

ppor

ting

and

enco

urag

ing

the

view

s of

and

inpu

t fro

m c

onsu

mer

s, fa

milie

s an

d ca

rers

.

It is

ess

entia

l tha

t ser

vice

s ar

e de

sign

ed a

nd d

evel

oped

with

the

pref

eren

ces

of c

onsu

mer

s at

the

cent

re o

f all

deci

sion

s. S

uppo

rtin

g co

nsum

ers,

fam

ilies,

car

ers

and

com

mun

ities

to a

ctiv

ely

part

ner

in d

ecis

ion

mak

ing

incl

udin

g co

prod

uctio

n an

d co

des

ign

of p

olic

y, p

lann

ing,

ser

vice

de

liver

y, e

valu

atio

n an

d re

sear

ch is

impo

rtan

t.

Con

vers

ely,

ser

vice

sta

ff al

so n

eed

supp

ort t

o be

abl

e to

effe

ctiv

ely

prom

ote

and

refle

ct th

e pr

efer

ence

s of

con

sum

ers,

fam

ilies,

car

ers

and

com

mun

ities

.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

21Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on e

xpan

ds th

e P

aren

t Pee

r S

uppo

rt v

olun

teer

ser

vice

bey

ond

the

curr

ent l

evel

of s

ervi

ce p

rovi

sion

to p

rovi

de

mor

e as

sert

ive

outr

each

into

, and

pre

senc

e in

the

com

mun

ity, a

nd p

rovi

de g

reat

er s

uppo

rt fo

r fa

milie

s of

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

ers.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on w

ill ex

plor

e th

e ex

pans

ion

of th

e P

aren

t and

Fam

ily D

rug

Sup

port

Ser

vice

to e

nsur

e gr

eate

r ac

cess

to p

eer

supp

ort f

or fa

milie

s of

m

etha

mph

etam

ine

user

s.

22Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on c

olla

bora

tes

with

th

e pe

ak b

odie

s in

men

tal h

ealth

and

alc

ohol

and

ot

her

drug

sec

tors

to e

nsur

e co

-mor

bidi

ty g

uide

lines

(s

et o

ut in

the

Co-

mor

bidi

ty o

f men

tal d

isor

ders

an

d su

bsta

nce

use:

A b

rief g

uide

for

the

prim

ary

care

clin

icia

ns a

nd G

uide

lines

on

the

man

agem

ent

of c

o-oc

curr

ing

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g an

d m

enta

l he

alth

con

ditio

ns) a

re im

plem

ente

d, m

onito

red

and

repo

rted

on

in W

A.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

the

reco

mm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f ser

vice

pro

vide

rs e

nsur

ing

that

sta

ff ha

ve a

ppro

pria

te

know

ledg

e an

d sk

ills to

iden

tify

and

resp

ond

to in

divi

dual

s w

ith c

o-oc

curr

ing

rela

ted

issu

es, i

n pa

rtic

ular

men

tal h

ealth

and

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

issu

es. T

he M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

ill co

llabo

rate

with

the

peak

bo

dies

in th

e m

enta

l hea

lth a

nd a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

ctor

s to

exp

lore

bo

th th

e ap

plic

atio

n of

thes

e gu

idel

ines

and

app

ropr

iate

mec

hani

sms

for

mon

itorin

g an

d re

port

ing.

23Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Hea

lth a

nd o

ther

key

sta

keho

lder

s to

ens

ure

a 'n

o w

rong

doo

r' ap

proa

ch b

y m

akin

g su

re th

at s

ervi

ce p

rovi

ders

are

app

lyin

g th

e na

tiona

lly d

evel

oped

and

val

idat

ed to

ols

to a

sses

s an

d ev

alua

te s

ervi

ce c

apab

ility

to d

eliv

er in

tegr

ated

se

rvic

es (a

s se

t out

in D

ual D

iagn

osis

Cap

abilit

y in

Add

ictio

n Tr

eatm

ent T

oolk

it, D

ual D

iagn

osis

C

apab

ility

in M

enta

l Hea

lth T

reat

men

t Too

lkit,

and

In

tegr

ated

Tre

atm

ent f

or C

o-oc

curr

ing

Dis

orde

rs

Evid

ence

-bas

ed P

ract

ices

Kit.

)

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f del

iver

ing

inte

grat

ed s

ervi

ces

for p

eopl

e w

ith c

o-oc

curr

ing

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g an

d m

enta

l hea

lth is

sues

. The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on a

nd D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

will

cont

inue

to d

eliv

er s

ervi

ces

that

pr

ovid

e tre

atm

ent a

nd s

uppo

rt to

peo

ple

expe

rienc

ing

co-o

ccur

ring

alco

hol

and

othe

r dru

g an

d m

enta

l hea

lth is

sues

, and

see

k to

iden

tify

and

impl

emen

t st

rate

gies

, inc

ludi

ng th

e de

velo

pmen

t of p

athw

ays

for e

arly

inte

rven

tion,

for

co-o

ccur

ring

issu

es to

be

bette

r add

ress

ed in

exi

stin

g an

d fu

ture

ser

vice

s.

The

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

Men

tal H

ealth

, Alc

ohol

and

Oth

er D

rug

Ser

vice

s P

lan

2015

–202

5 ou

tline

s th

e im

port

ance

of r

educ

ing

the

fragm

enta

tion

of

supp

orts

pro

vide

d to

indi

vidu

als

and

fam

ilies

thro

ugh

impr

oved

ser

vice

co

llabo

ratio

n an

d in

tegr

atio

n ac

ross

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

and

men

tal

heal

th (w

here

requ

ired

).


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

24Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on e

nsur

es

that

its

com

mis

sion

ing

polic

es, p

roce

ss a

nd

prac

tices

sup

port

and

rei

nfor

ce th

e ap

plic

atio

n of

the

guid

elin

es a

nd to

ols

refe

rred

to a

t R

ecom

men

datio

ns 2

2 an

d 23

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

As

part

of t

he p

lann

ing

and

revi

ew p

roce

ss fo

r al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

trea

tmen

t ser

vice

s, th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

ill ex

plor

e w

ays

in w

hich

this

rec

omm

enda

tion

can

be im

plem

ente

d ac

ross

com

mis

sion

ing

polic

es, p

roce

ss a

nd

prac

tices

.

25Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on s

houl

d pr

omot

e th

e ap

plic

atio

n of

evi

denc

e ba

sed

e-H

ealth

trea

tmen

t pr

ogra

ms

or in

tegr

ate

e-H

ealth

trea

tmen

t pro

gram

s in

to e

stab

lishe

d fa

ce-t

o-fa

ce m

odel

s of

car

e as

a

solu

tion

that

may

ass

ist i

n: im

prov

ing

acce

ss to

tr

eatm

ent f

or m

ore

peop

le in

gen

eral

; the

lack

of

avai

labl

e se

rvic

es in

reg

iona

l and

rur

al W

A; a

nd

conc

erns

abo

ut p

rivac

y in

sm

alle

r co

mm

uniti

es.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f tre

atm

ent a

cces

sibi

lity

for

indi

vidu

als

and

fam

ilies

livin

g in

re

gion

al a

nd r

ural

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ia. A

num

ber

of a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g (a

nd o

ther

hea

lth) s

ervi

ce p

rovi

ders

cur

rent

ly u

tilis

e te

le-h

ealth

opt

ions

to

incr

ease

the

trea

tmen

t rea

ch o

f ser

vice

s. P

revi

ous

cons

ulta

tion

in r

ural

, re

gion

al a

nd r

emot

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

sho

ws

that

som

e co

mm

uniti

es d

o no

t reg

ard

tele

-hea

lth a

s a

solu

tion

to s

ervi

ce e

xpan

sion

/rea

ch, b

ut r

athe

r a

com

plem

enta

ry s

ervi

ce a

nd a

lso

stat

ed th

at it

sho

uld

not b

e us

ed in

lieu

of

face

-to-

face

ser

vice

s. F

utur

e ex

pans

ion

into

e-h

ealth

for

alco

hol a

nd

othe

r dr

ug tr

eatm

ent w

ill be

exp

lore

d w

ith th

ese

cons

ider

atio

ns in

min

d.

29W

ithin

12

mon

ths,

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

, W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

Pol

ice

Forc

e an

d D

epar

tmen

t of

Hea

lth e

stab

lish

an a

ppro

pria

te a

ltern

ativ

e cr

isis

in

terv

entio

n re

spon

se th

at w

ould

pro

vide

a s

hort

-te

rm p

lace

for

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

ers

whe

n th

ey

are

in c

risis

that

will

keep

them

, the

ir fa

milie

s an

d th

e co

mm

unity

saf

e, in

clud

ing

in th

e re

gion

s.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

the

conc

erns

with

in th

e Ta

skfo

rce

Rep

ort r

egar

ding

a n

eed

for a

ppro

pria

te

serv

ice

resp

onse

s in

tim

es o

f cris

is, a

nd th

at th

ese

are

prov

ided

free

from

st

igm

a. D

espi

te th

e nu

mbe

r of c

halle

nges

rela

ted

to th

e m

anag

emen

t of

thos

e af

fect

ed b

y m

etha

mph

etam

ines

, it i

s im

port

ant t

hat s

ervi

ce re

spon

ses

reco

gnis

e th

e co

mpl

exiti

es re

late

d to

use

to p

rom

ote

de-s

tigm

atis

atio

n an

d en

gage

men

t. It

is a

lso

impo

rtan

t tha

t the

re is

app

ropr

iate

sup

port

for f

amilie

s im

pact

ed b

y an

othe

r’s m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use,

and

gen

uine

alc

ohol

and

ot

her d

rug,

and

men

tal h

ealth

co-

occu

rrin

g re

spon

ses.

In a

ddre

ssin

g th

is

reco

mm

enda

tion

plan

ning

for,

and

deve

lopm

ent o

f new

initi

ativ

es, a

s w

ell

as th

e ex

pans

ion

of e

xist

ing

serv

ices

will

be c

onsi

dere

d to

ens

ure

ther

e ar

e ap

prop

riate

inte

rven

tion

resp

onse

s to

mee

t the

nee

ds o

f peo

ple

with

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her d

rug-

rela

ted

prob

lem

s, th

eir f

amilie

s an

d th

e br

oade

r com

mun

ity

durin

g a

cris

is.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

30In

ord

er to

bet

ter

mee

t reg

iona

l nee

ds, w

ithin

12

mon

ths

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

dev

elop

s re

gion

al a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g pl

ans

in c

onsu

ltatio

n w

ith th

e co

mm

unity

and

oth

er k

ey s

take

hold

ers

to

prom

ulga

te a

pla

ce-b

ased

app

roac

h to

pla

nnin

g,

inve

stm

ent,

deliv

ery

and

eval

uatio

n of

ser

vice

s.

Sup

port

ed

Prio

ritis

atio

n of

the

plan

ning

, inv

estm

ent,

deliv

ery

and

eval

uatio

n of

ser

vice

s w

ithin

reg

iona

l and

rem

ote

area

s re

mai

ns a

prio

rity

acro

ss g

over

nmen

t an

d in

res

pond

ing

to th

e ne

eds

of r

egio

nal a

nd r

emot

e co

mm

uniti

es, t

heir

cont

inue

d in

volv

emen

t in

deve

lopi

ng a

nd im

plem

entin

g al

coho

l and

oth

er

drug

pla

ns is

cen

tral

to e

nsur

ing

the

prov

isio

n of

app

ropr

iate

ser

vice

s,

prog

ram

s an

d su

ppor

t.

33M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

the

Abo

rigin

al C

omm

unity

Con

trol

led

Hea

lth S

ervi

ces

and

Org

anis

atio

ns to

dev

elop

and

del

iver

cul

tura

lly

appr

opria

te m

odel

s of

res

iden

tial r

ehab

ilitat

ion.

Sup

port

ed

This

rec

omm

enda

tion

is s

uppo

rted

by

the

Gov

ernm

ent a

nd c

an b

e ad

dres

sed

thro

ugh

the

cont

inua

tion

of e

xist

ing

and

curr

ent p

ract

ices

and

m

odel

s of

res

iden

tial r

ehab

ilitat

ion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

will

cont

inue

to e

nsur

e se

rvic

es a

re c

ultu

rally

com

pete

nt, a

s is

a r

equi

rem

ent

in M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on s

ervi

ce a

gree

men

ts. T

he M

enta

l Hea

lth

Com

mis

sion

will

prog

ress

the

accr

edita

tion

of M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on

fund

ed a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

agai

nst a

n ap

prov

ed

accr

edita

tion

stan

dard

with

in th

ree

year

s of

the

Ser

vice

Agr

eem

ent

com

men

cem

ent d

ate.

34Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

A

borig

inal

com

mun

ity le

ader

s, p

eak

bodi

es a

nd

Abo

rigin

al C

omm

unity

Con

trol

led

Hea

lth S

ervi

ces

to in

corp

orat

e th

e al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

trea

tmen

t ne

eds

of A

borig

inal

peo

ple

in th

e re

gion

al a

lcoh

ol

and

othe

r dr

ug p

lans

in R

ecom

men

datio

n 30

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

that

in

put f

rom

Abo

rigin

al c

omm

unity

lead

ers,

pea

k bo

dies

, and

rel

evan

t loc

al

heal

th a

nd o

ther

org

anis

atio

ns w

orki

ng w

ith A

borig

inal

peo

ple

is c

ruci

al to

de

velo

ping

cul

tura

lly a

ppro

pria

te a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g pl

ans

to a

ddre

ss

met

ham

phet

amin

e us

e in

the

regi

ons.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

w

ill co

ntin

ue to

pro

vide

and

exp

and

exis

ting

mec

hani

sms

to e

nsur

e pl

ace

base

d cu

ltura

l sec

urity

of s

ervi

ces

and

supp

orts

pro

vide

d.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

35Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on to

wor

k cl

osel

y w

ith th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n N

etw

ork

of A

lcoh

ol

and

othe

r D

rug

Age

ncie

s to

est

ablis

h re

gula

r op

port

uniti

es fo

r bo

th m

ains

trea

m a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dr

ug s

ervi

ce p

rovi

ders

and

Abo

rigin

al C

omm

unity

C

ontr

olle

d H

ealth

Ser

vice

s to

sha

re in

form

atio

n an

d le

sson

s le

arne

d ab

out h

ow b

est t

o m

eet t

he n

eeds

of

Abo

rigin

al p

eopl

e. T

his

coul

d in

clud

e en

ablin

g in

ter-

orga

nisa

tiona

l sta

ff m

obilit

y an

d tr

aini

ng

oppo

rtun

ities

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f the

cul

tura

lly s

ecur

e de

liver

y of

ser

vice

s an

d su

ppor

ts to

A

borig

inal

peo

ple.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

will

cont

inue

to p

rovi

de

trai

ning

and

sup

port

opt

ions

to b

uild

the

capa

city

of b

oth

Abo

rigin

al a

nd

non-

Abo

rigin

al w

orke

rs in

the

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g an

d br

oade

r he

alth

se

rvic

es s

ecto

r to

bet

ter

unde

rsta

nd a

nd w

ork

in c

ultu

rally

sec

ure

way

s w

ith A

borig

inal

peo

ple.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

thou

gh th

e S

tron

g S

pirit

Str

ong

Min

d P

rogr

am h

ave

repr

esen

tativ

es o

n th

e A

borig

inal

Alc

ohol

an

d O

ther

Dru

g W

orke

r Fo

rum

Ref

eren

ce G

roup

eng

agin

g A

borig

inal

w

orke

rs fr

om a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g ag

enci

es a

nd o

rgan

isat

ions

acr

oss

WA

. Str

ateg

ies

to in

crea

se a

nd d

evel

op th

e A

borig

inal

alc

ohol

and

oth

er

drug

and

men

tal h

ealth

wor

kfor

ce a

re p

rovi

ded

in th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n M

enta

l Hea

lth, A

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

Dru

g W

orkf

orce

Str

ateg

ic F

ram

ewor

k 20

19-2

025.

36Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on to

wor

k w

ith

Abo

rigin

al c

omm

unity

lead

ers,

and

pea

k bo

dies

for

Abo

rigin

al h

ealth

ser

vice

s an

d th

e al

coho

l and

oth

er

drug

sec

tor

to d

evel

op a

nd im

plem

ent a

str

ateg

y to

rec

ruit,

trai

n an

d re

tain

Abo

rigin

al s

taff

in b

oth

mai

nstr

eam

and

Abo

rigin

al-s

peci

fic a

lcoh

ol a

nd

othe

r dr

ug s

ervi

ces.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

rec

ruitm

ent,

trai

ning

an

d re

tent

ion

of A

borig

inal

sta

ff in

bot

h m

ains

trea

m a

nd A

borig

inal

-spe

cific

al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

serv

ices

will

enha

nce

the

cultu

ral c

ompe

tenc

e of

ser

vice

s de

liver

ed a

cros

s W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

. The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on s

uppo

rts

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a s

kille

d A

borig

inal

wor

kfor

ce to

re

spon

d to

the

need

s of

Abo

rigin

al in

divi

dual

s, fa

milie

s an

d co

mm

uniti

es

expe

rienc

ing

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g an

d so

cial

and

em

otio

nal w

ellb

eing

re

late

d ha

rm b

y co

ntin

uing

to p

rovi

de th

e op

port

unity

for

Abo

rigin

al

wor

kers

to g

ain

natio

nally

rec

ogni

sed

qual

ifica

tions

.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

43Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on in

con

sulta

tion

with

th

e O

ffice

of M

ultic

ultu

ral I

nter

ests

and

Cul

tura

lly

and

Ling

uist

ical

ly (C

aLD

) com

mun

ities

, with

in 1

2 m

onth

s, u

nder

take

and

rep

ort o

n fu

rthe

r re

sear

ch

and

cons

ulta

tion

on d

rug

use,

its

impa

ct o

n C

aLD

co

mm

uniti

es a

nd a

ppro

ache

s to

add

ress

issu

es

iden

tified

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion,

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

gaps

in

cur

rent

kno

wle

dge

of th

e le

vel o

f use

of i

llicit

drug

s am

ongs

t the

CaL

D

popu

latio

n an

d th

e im

pact

of d

rug

use

on C

aLD

com

mun

ities

. Peo

ple

from

CaL

D c

omm

uniti

es h

ave

been

hig

hlig

hted

as

one

of s

even

prio

rity

popu

latio

ns u

nder

the

Com

mon

wea

lth’s

Nat

iona

l Dru

g S

trat

egy

2017

-202

65 .

Furt

her r

esea

rch

and

cons

ulta

tion

will

be s

uppo

rted

by

the

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith th

e O

ffice

of M

ultic

ultu

ral I

nter

ests

, util

isin

g ap

prop

riate

con

sulta

tion

appr

oach

es to

impa

ct o

n fu

ture

con

side

ratio

n on

po

tent

ial a

ppro

ache

s to

the

issu

es id

entifi

ed.

44Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on, w

orki

ng w

ith

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Com

mun

ities

, con

tinue

s to

be

fund

ed fo

r tr

ansi

tiona

l hou

sing

and

sup

port

for

peop

le e

xitin

g tr

eatm

ent f

or a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g de

pend

ency

, inc

ludi

ng tr

eatm

ent i

n pr

ison

s.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion,

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f sta

ble

acco

mm

odat

ion

in th

e pr

oces

s of

reco

very

from

m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use,

esp

ecia

lly fo

r peo

ple

exiti

ng a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g tre

atm

ent s

ervi

ces

and

pris

ons.

Rec

urre

nt fu

ndin

g fo

r the

con

tinua

tion

of

exis

ting

Tran

sitio

nal H

ousi

ng a

nd S

uppo

rt P

rogr

ams

beds

was

pro

vide

d th

roug

h th

e 20

18-1

9 m

id-y

ear r

evie

w b

udge

t pro

cess

. The

exp

ansi

on o

f cu

rren

t Tra

nsiti

onal

Hou

sing

and

Sup

port

Pro

gram

s w

ill be

exp

lore

d an

d is

su

ppor

ted

by b

oth

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Com

mun

ities

and

the

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on.

5 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t. D

epar

tmen

t of

Hea

lth. N

atio

nal D

rug

Str

ateg

y 20

17-2

026.

Can

ber

ra: T

he D

epar

tmen

t; 2

017.

p 2

9. [a

cces

sed

201

8 N

ov 7

] A

vaila

ble

fro

m h

ttp

s://

bet

a.he

alth

.gov

.au/

reso

urce

s/p

ublic

atio

ns/n

atio

nal-

dru

g-st

rate

gy-

2017

-202

6


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

45Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on in

con

sulta

tion

with

W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n N

etw

ork

of A

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

D

rug

Age

ncie

s an

d pe

ak e

mpl

oyer

bod

ies

brok

er a

pa

rtne

rshi

p be

twee

n a

willi

ng a

nd c

apab

le tr

eatm

ent

prov

ider

and

em

ploy

er to

est

ablis

h a

suita

ble

pilo

t st

ruct

ured

ret

urn

to e

mpl

oym

ent p

rogr

am in

WA

.

Sup

port

ed

in P

rinci

ple

This

rec

omm

enda

tion

is s

uppo

rted

by

the

Gov

ernm

ent.

It is

not

ed th

at th

e pr

ovis

ion

of e

mpl

oym

ent a

nd/o

r re

turn

to e

mpl

oym

ent t

ype-

prog

ram

s ar

e no

t the

cor

e bu

sine

ss o

f the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

. How

ever

, in

liais

on

with

the

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

Net

wor

k of

Alc

ohol

and

oth

er D

rug

Age

ncie

s th

e ex

plor

atio

n of

pot

entia

l opt

ions

to a

ddre

ss th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n an

d its

und

erly

ing

them

es w

ould

be

supp

orte

d. A

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g pr

ovid

ers

cont

ract

ed b

y th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on th

roug

h re

side

ntia

l re

habi

litat

ion

prog

ram

s an

d C

omm

unity

Alc

ohol

and

Dru

g S

ervi

ce te

ams,

as

sist

clie

nts

with

pre

and

pos

t tre

atm

ent,

supp

ort a

nd c

ase

man

agem

ent.

This

may

incl

ude

assi

stan

ce w

ith im

prov

ing

the

clie

nt’s

per

sona

l ci

rcum

stan

ces

incl

udin

g ed

ucat

ion

and

trai

ning

opp

ortu

nitie

s an

d re

-ent

ry

into

em

ploy

men

t.

46Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on to

wor

k w

ith

WA

NA

DA

and

con

sum

er g

roup

s to

intr

oduc

e a

syst

em a

nd p

ract

ices

that

sup

port

pos

t-tr

eatm

ent

tran

sitio

n pl

anni

ng a

nd a

fter

care

inte

rven

tions

for

peop

le e

xitin

g tr

eatm

ent,

part

icul

arly

for

thos

e in

ou

tpat

ient

trea

tmen

t.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion,

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f pos

t-tre

atm

ent t

rans

ition

pla

nnin

g an

d af

ter c

are

inte

rven

tions

fo

r peo

ple

enga

ged

in tr

eatm

ent f

or m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use.

The

Men

tal

Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

ill co

ntin

ue to

sup

port

the

curr

ent s

yste

ms

in p

lace

w

ithin

the

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

ctor

that

pro

vide

ser

vice

s to

peo

ple

exiti

ng tr

eatm

ent.

47Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on to

spe

cific

ally

fu

nd s

peci

alis

t alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

serv

ices

to

deve

lop

and

prom

ote

inte

rven

tions

and

pat

hway

s to

af

terc

are

for

clie

nts.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

Spe

cial

ist a

lcoh

ol

and

othe

r dr

ug s

ervi

ces

are

curr

ently

fund

ed to

pro

vide

inte

rven

tions

an

d pa

thw

ays

to a

fterc

are

for

clie

nts

exiti

ng tr

eatm

ent.

Thes

e pa

thw

ays

to a

fterc

are

mus

t con

tinue

to b

e ut

ilised

and

pro

mot

ed to

indi

vidu

als

com

plet

ing

met

ham

phet

amin

e re

late

d tr

eatm

ent.

Con

side

ratio

n fo

r th

e ex

pans

ion

of T

rans

ition

al H

ousi

ng a

nd S

uppo

rt P

rogr

ams,

and

the

cont

inua

tion

of c

omm

unity

trea

tmen

t em

ploy

ees

in C

omm

unity

Alc

ohol

an

d D

rug

Ser

vice

s to

sup

port

indi

vidu

als

pre

and

post

res

iden

tial

reha

bilit

atio

n, r

etai

n pe

ople

in tr

eatm

ent a

nd p

reve

nt r

elap

se in

prio

rity

loca

tions

alig

n w

ith th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

49Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

oth

er

gove

rnm

ent a

genc

ies

and

the

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dr

ug s

ecto

r to

inte

grat

e a

case

-man

agem

ent

appr

oach

, whi

ch m

eets

the

mul

tiple

and

com

plex

ne

eds

of in

divi

dual

s an

d fa

milie

s, in

to it

s se

rvic

e de

liver

y m

odel

.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

com

plex

ity

of m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use

has

been

ack

now

ledg

ed. I

n ad

dres

sing

th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n, th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

and

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on w

ill co

ntin

ue to

ens

ure

fund

ed s

ervi

ces

adop

t a c

ase

man

agem

ent a

ppro

ach

to a

ddre

ss th

e m

ultip

le n

eeds

of i

ndiv

idua

ls

and

fam

ilies

acce

ssin

g tr

eatm

ent,

and

iden

tify

area

s of

nee

d in

prio

rity

popu

latio

ns.

51Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on, i

n co

nsul

tatio

n w

ith th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n N

etw

ork

of A

lcoh

ol a

nd

othe

r D

rug

Age

ncie

s, ta

rget

ser

vice

con

sum

ers

and

eval

uate

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of

info

rmat

ion

serv

ices

, in

clud

ing:

aw

aren

ess

of s

ervi

ces;

rea

ch o

f ser

vice

s,

incl

udin

g to

reg

iona

l are

as; s

uita

bilit

y of

cur

rent

de

liver

y m

odes

; and

opt

imal

leve

ls a

nd m

ix o

f se

rvic

e pr

ovis

ion,

with

in 1

2 m

onth

s.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion,

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f the

pro

mot

ion

and

avai

labi

lity

of in

form

atio

n an

d su

ppor

t for

in

divi

dual

s, fa

milie

s an

d co

mm

uniti

es im

pact

ed b

y m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use.

Th

e W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n M

enta

l Hea

lth, A

lcoh

ol a

nd O

ther

Dru

g S

ervi

ces

Pla

n 20

15-2

025

will

be c

onsu

lted

in s

uppo

rt o

f thi

s re

com

men

datio

n as

it

outli

nes

the

optim

al m

ix a

nd le

vel o

f ser

vice

s fo

r al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

serv

ices

acr

oss

the

Sta

te, i

nclu

ding

by

regi

on, a

nd is

und

erpi

nned

by

evid

ence

-bas

ed, n

atio

nally

app

rove

d m

odel

ling

tool

s an

d in

put f

rom

the

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

com

mun

ity.

55Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

the

WA

Net

wor

k of

Alc

ohol

and

oth

er D

rug

Age

ncie

s to

rev

iew

the

curr

ent d

ata

colle

ctio

n an

d an

alys

is

syst

em, w

areh

ouse

d th

roug

h th

e S

ervi

ce

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent S

yste

m to

iden

tify

and

impl

emen

t im

prov

emen

ts th

at e

nabl

e th

e ca

ptur

e an

d de

mon

stra

tion

of o

utco

mes

and

sup

port

im

prov

ed q

ualit

y of

spe

cial

ist a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

rvic

es.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on w

ill w

ork

with

the

peak

bod

y fo

r th

e al

coho

l and

oth

er

drug

ser

vice

sec

tor

to e

xplo

re th

e m

ost e

ffect

ive

way

s to

impr

ove

and

stan

dard

ise

the

capt

ure

and

dem

onst

ratio

n of

out

com

es a

nd im

prov

ed

serv

ice

qual

ity. T

his

may

invo

lve

the

revi

ew o

f nat

iona

lly r

ecog

nise

d ou

tcom

e m

easu

res

to a

lign

with

nat

iona

l dire

ctio

ns.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

56Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on a

nd th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Hea

lth c

onsu

lt w

ith r

elev

ant s

take

hold

ers

to

iden

tify

the

appr

opria

te m

echa

nism

for

regu

latin

g al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

spec

ialis

t ser

vice

pro

vide

rs,

part

icul

arly

thos

e th

at a

re n

ot g

over

nmen

t fun

ded,

to

ens

ure

that

the

com

mun

ity, v

ulne

rabl

e in

divi

dual

s,

and

pote

ntia

lly r

efer

ring

serv

ices

can

be

confi

dent

in

the

qual

ity o

f the

se s

ervi

ces.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

rec

omm

enda

tion,

ack

now

ledg

ing

that

th

ere

shou

ld b

e a

min

imum

sta

ndar

d of

evi

denc

e ba

sed

care

for

all a

lcoh

ol

and

othe

r dr

ug s

ervi

ces

prov

ided

to th

e co

mm

unity

, whe

ther

fund

ed

by th

e go

vern

men

t or

not.

Alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

serv

ices

fund

ed b

y th

e go

vern

men

t are

con

trac

tual

ly r

equi

red

to b

e ac

cred

ited

agai

nst a

re

cogn

ised

qua

lity

stan

dard

; a b

ase

leve

l of q

ualit

y re

gula

tion

shou

ld a

pply

to

all

serv

ices

pro

vidi

ng s

peci

alis

t alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

trea

tmen

t. Th

e de

velo

pmen

t of t

he N

atio

nal Q

ualit

y Fr

amew

ork

for

the

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dr

ug s

ecto

r w

ill su

ppor

t thi

s re

com

men

datio

n.

57Th

e C

omm

unity

Saf

ety

and

Fam

ily S

uppo

rt C

abin

et

Sub

-Com

mitt

ee e

stab

lish

a M

etha

mph

etam

ine

Act

ion

Pla

n S

enio

r O

ffice

r W

orki

ng G

roup

rep

ortin

g to

the

Dire

ctor

s G

ener

al Im

plem

enta

tion

Gro

up. T

he

purp

ose

of w

hich

will

incl

ude

to:

w

deve

lop

a pl

an to

impl

emen

t rec

omm

enda

tions

of

this

rep

ort s

uppo

rted

by

gove

rnm

ent;

w

deve

lop

and

final

ise

an a

ccou

ntab

ility

fram

ewor

k fo

r m

easu

ring

who

le-o

f-go

vern

men

t pe

rfor

man

ce, i

nclu

ding

dev

elop

men

t of

perf

orm

ance

indi

cato

rs (w

here

ver

poss

ible

dr

awin

g on

exi

stin

g pr

efer

ably

nat

iona

l dat

a se

ts)

and

targ

ets.

Sup

port

ed

This

rec

omm

enda

tion

is s

uppo

rted

by

the

Gov

ernm

ent.

The

Met

ham

phet

amin

e A

ctio

n P

lan

Sen

ior

Offi

cers

’ Wor

king

Gro

up

have

wor

ked

to d

evel

op th

e Fu

ll G

over

nmen

t Res

pons

e to

the

Met

ham

phet

amin

e A

ctio

n P

lan

Task

forc

e R

epor

t, in

clud

ing

cons

ider

atio

ns

for

impl

emen

tatio

n an

d m

onito

ring.


Lea

d A

gen

cy: D

epar

tmen

t o

f H

ealt

h

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

14D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

and

WA

Cou

ntry

Hea

lth S

ervi

ce

ensu

re th

at it

’s a

gree

d S

tate

-wid

e de

tox

polic

y,

the

'Alc

ohol

and

oth

er D

rug

With

draw

al P

olic

y', i

s im

plem

ente

d by

its

heal

th s

ervi

ces

as a

prio

rity.

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

the

reco

mm

enda

tion

for

the

Dep

artm

ent

of H

ealth

to p

riorit

ise

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a M

odel

of C

are

to s

uppo

rt

cons

iste

nt im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e 'A

lcoh

ol a

nd O

ther

Dru

g W

ithdr

awal

P

olic

y' a

cros

s th

e st

ate

of W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

, ack

now

ledg

ing

that

en

gage

men

t with

spe

cific

pop

ulat

ions

and

pat

hway

s fo

r m

etro

polit

an

and

regi

onal

com

mun

ities

to a

cces

s w

ithdr

awal

ser

vice

s w

ill ne

ed to

be

exp

lore

d.

26Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

pro

mot

es g

reat

er

awar

enes

s of

Nee

dle

Syr

inge

Pro

gram

s an

d N

eedl

e S

yrin

ge E

xcha

nge

Pro

gram

s in

WA

to p

eopl

e w

ho

need

thes

e se

rvic

es.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n. N

eedl

e an

d S

yrin

ge/E

xcha

nge

Pro

gram

s ar

e im

port

ant t

o ac

hiev

ing

a re

duct

ion

in h

arm

rel

ated

to m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use

and

prov

idin

g op

port

unity

fo

r re

ferr

al to

oth

er h

ealth

and

wel

fare

ser

vice

s as

req

uire

d. T

he

Dep

artm

ent o

f Hea

lth w

ill w

ork

with

its

part

ners

to in

crea

se

avai

labi

lity

and

targ

eted

pro

mot

ion

of N

eedl

e an

d S

yrin

ge/E

xcha

nge

Pro

gram

s in

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ia.

27Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

in c

onsu

ltatio

n w

ith

Abo

rigin

al C

omm

unity

Con

trol

led

Hea

lth S

ervi

ces

and

the

WA

Cou

ntry

Hea

lth S

ervi

ce to

impl

emen

t st

rate

gies

to:

w

prov

ide

a m

ore

cultu

rally

app

ropr

iate

ser

vice

for

Abo

rigin

al p

eopl

e de

liver

ed b

y A

borig

inal

peo

ple;

an

d

w

impr

ove

acce

ss to

and

the

avai

labi

lity

of N

eedl

e S

yrin

ge E

xcha

nge

Pro

gram

s pa

rtic

ular

ly in

reg

iona

l ar

eas.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n an

d ac

know

ledg

es

that

it is

ess

entia

l for

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

serv

ices

to u

nder

stan

d th

e ro

le o

f cul

ture

, pro

vide

non

-dis

crim

inat

ory

care

and

res

pond

to

the

cultu

ral r

equi

rem

ents

of A

borig

inal

peo

ple.

In a

ddre

ssin

g th

is

reco

mm

enda

tion

it is

impo

rtan

t to

build

upo

n an

d st

reng

then

the

capa

city

of A

borig

inal

Com

mun

ity C

ontr

olle

d H

ealth

Ser

vice

s, a

s w

ell a

s th

e br

oade

r w

orkf

orce

to p

rovi

de a

ppro

pria

te s

ervi

ces

and

supp

ort f

or A

borig

inal

peo

ple

and

com

mun

ities

.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

28D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

to e

xam

ine

oppo

rtun

ities

for

Nee

dle

Syr

inge

Pro

gram

pro

vide

rs to

exp

and

thei

r ro

le b

eyon

d su

pply

ing

clea

n ne

edle

s an

d sy

ringe

s to

con

sum

ers

of th

eir

serv

ices

to in

clud

e ot

her

harm

re

duct

ion

stra

tegi

es in

clud

ing

brie

f int

erve

ntio

ns.

Sup

port

edTh

is r

ecom

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed b

y th

e G

over

nmen

t. Th

is

reco

mm

enda

tion

will

be a

ddre

ssed

thro

ugh

the

expa

nsio

n of

exi

stin

g an

d cr

eatio

n of

new

pro

gram

s/se

rvic

es to

cre

ate

oppo

rtun

ities

for

the

Nee

dle

and

Syr

inge

Pro

gram

and

ena

ble

the

cont

inua

tion

of th

e pr

ovis

ion

of h

arm

red

uctio

n st

rate

gies

.

42Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

in c

onsu

ltatio

n w

ith th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on a

nd r

epre

sent

ativ

es fr

om

the

LGB

TIQ

com

mun

ity, i

nclu

de in

the

deve

lopm

ent

of th

e W

A L

esbi

an, G

ay, B

isex

ual,

Tran

sgen

der,

Inte

rsex

(LG

BTI

) Hea

lth S

trat

egy

– th

e im

pact

of

illici

t dru

g us

e on

the

LGB

TI c

omm

unity

(inc

ludi

ng

met

ham

phet

amin

e); r

elev

ant a

ppro

ache

s to

ad

dres

sing

illic

it dr

ug u

se, a

nd c

onsi

dera

tion

of th

e R

ainb

ow T

ick

Acc

redi

tatio

n P

rogr

am.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n, a

ckno

wle

dgin

g th

e im

port

ance

of p

rovi

ding

tailo

red

and

appr

opria

te in

terv

entio

ns

and

supp

ort t

o th

e Le

sbia

n, G

ay, B

isex

ual,

Tran

sgen

der,

Inte

rsex

(L

GB

TI) p

opul

atio

n w

ho h

ave

been

iden

tified

as

a gr

oup

at h

igh

risk

of m

etha

mph

etam

ine

rela

ted

harm

. The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Hea

lth

and

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

will

cont

inue

to p

rovi

de p

eer

base

d an

d ot

her

rela

ted

supp

ort s

ervi

ces

to L

GB

TI p

eopl

e us

ing

met

ham

phet

amin

e an

d ex

plor

e th

e de

velo

pmen

t of t

arge

ted

outr

each

pro

gram

s an

d re

sour

ces.

The

con

tinue

d de

velo

pmen

t of

the

LGB

TI H

ealth

Str

ateg

y w

ill al

so s

uppo

rt th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n.

52D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

wor

ks w

ith k

ey s

take

hold

ers

to

iden

tify

sour

ces

of s

uppo

rt fo

r sp

ecifi

c al

coho

l and

ot

her

drug

res

earc

h to

mak

e th

is a

sta

ted

rese

arch

pr

iorit

y.

Sup

port

edTh

is r

ecom

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed b

y th

e G

over

nmen

t. It

is n

oted

th

at in

add

ress

ing

this

rec

omm

enda

tion,

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Hea

lth

will

expl

ore

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a r

esea

rch

and

inno

vatio

n st

rate

gy

to h

elp

guid

e in

vest

men

ts m

ade

by th

e G

over

nmen

t’s n

ew F

utur

e H

ealth

Res

earc

h an

d In

nova

tion

Fund

with

con

side

ratio

n of

how

to

prio

ritis

e al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

rese

arch

.

53D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

con

tinue

s th

e W

A Il

licit

Sub

stan

ce E

valu

atio

n S

tudy

as

an o

ngoi

ng v

alua

ble

early

war

ning

sys

tem

for

rapi

d id

entifi

catio

n an

d re

port

ing

of c

onve

ntio

nal a

nd n

ovel

psy

choa

ctiv

e dr

ugs

caus

ing

toxi

city

in p

atie

nts.

Sup

port

edTh

is r

ecom

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed b

y th

e G

over

nmen

t, ho

wev

er it

is

ack

now

ledg

ed th

at le

gisl

ativ

e ch

ange

s to

the

Gua

rdia

nshi

p an

d A

dm

inis

trat

ion

Act

199

0 w

ill be

req

uire

d in

ord

er to

ach

ieve

this

.


Lea

d A

gen

cy: D

epar

tmen

t o

f E

du

cati

on

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

1Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of E

duca

tion

and

the

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on li

aise

with

the

Sch

ool C

urric

ulum

and

S

tand

ards

Aut

horit

y to

man

date

a m

inim

um le

vel o

f al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

educ

atio

n in

all

scho

ols.

Sup

port

ed in

P

rinci

ple

– no

ting

that

ther

e is

an

exis

ting

man

date

d H

ealth

syl

labu

s th

at in

clud

es

alco

hol a

nd d

rug

educ

atio

n re

late

d cu

rric

ulum

con

tent

.

The

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion

in p

rinci

ple,

ac

know

ledg

ing

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f alc

ohol

and

dru

g ed

ucat

ion

in

scho

ols.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Edu

catio

n w

ill w

ork

in p

artn

ersh

ip

with

the

Sch

ool C

urric

ulum

and

Sta

ndar

ds A

utho

rity,

Cat

holic

Ed

ucat

ion

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ia a

nd th

e A

ssoc

iatio

n of

Inde

pend

ent

Sch

ools

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ia to

dev

elop

a c

ompr

ehen

sive

pro

fess

iona

l le

arni

ng p

acka

ge to

sup

port

the

deliv

ery

of m

anda

ted

curr

icul

um

cont

ent a

cros

s al

l Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

scho

ols.

Thi

s pa

ckag

e w

ill al

so fu

rthe

r ass

ist s

choo

ls to

effe

ctiv

ely

embe

d ev

iden

ce-b

ased

an

d ev

iden

ce-in

form

ed re

sour

ces

and

prog

ram

s fo

r alc

ohol

and

ot

her d

rug

prev

entio

n, th

roug

h th

e S

choo

l Dru

g Ed

ucat

ion

and

Roa

d A

war

e pr

ogra

m. T

he W

A D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

will

also

ass

ist

in a

ddre

ssin

g th

is re

com

men

datio

n in

revi

ewin

g th

e G

row

ing

and

Dev

elop

ing

Hea

lthy

Rel

atio

nshi

ps (G

DH

R) w

ebsi

te a

nd th

e pr

ovis

ion

of te

ache

r pro

fess

iona

l lea

rnin

g vi

a ex

pans

ion

of th

e cu

rren

t Cur

tin

Teac

her T

rain

ing

Pro

gram

.

2Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of E

duca

tion

give

s gr

eate

r pr

omin

ence

to a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g ed

ucat

ion

in

scho

ols

by in

clud

ing

stat

emen

ts in

futu

re s

trat

egic

do

cum

ents

and

dire

ctio

ns to

sch

ools

that

:

w

posi

tions

the

issu

e in

the

cont

ext o

f stu

dent

hea

lth

and

wel

l-bei

ng;

w

addr

esse

s th

e im

pact

s of

not

just

stu

dent

s’ o

wn

use,

bu

t als

o us

e of

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rugs

by

othe

rs;

w

requ

ires

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g ed

ucat

ion

prog

ram

s to

be

base

d on

bes

t pra

ctic

e;

w

take

s a

who

le-o

f-sc

hool

app

roac

h; a

nd

w

prov

ides

for

both

uni

vers

al a

nd ta

rget

ed p

rogr

ams

to m

eet t

he n

eeds

of i

ndiv

idua

ls a

nd/o

r gr

oups

of

stud

ents

at g

reat

er r

isk.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is re

com

men

datio

n no

ting

that

sch

ools

ar

e a

uniq

ue s

ettin

g to

fost

er s

ocia

l, cu

ltura

l and

form

al le

arni

ng fo

r ch

ildre

n, a

nd to

pro

tect

and

edu

cate

them

. Thi

s re

com

men

datio

n w

ill be

add

ress

ed th

roug

h th

e de

velo

pmen

t, de

liver

y an

d ex

pans

ion

of e

vide

nce-

base

d an

d ev

iden

ce-in

form

ed s

choo

l pro

gram

s.

Thes

e pr

ogra

ms

aim

to p

reve

nt a

nd re

duce

you

ng p

eopl

e’s

drug

and

alc

ohol

use

and

the

asso

ciat

ed h

arm

s am

ongs

t at-

risk

grou

ps a

s w

ell a

s pr

ovid

e w

hole

-of-s

choo

l dru

g ed

ucat

ion

and

early

inte

rven

tion

initi

ativ

es. T

he D

epar

tmen

t of E

duca

tion

and

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

will

wor

k in

col

labo

ratio

n to

add

ress

th

is re

com

men

datio

n, e

nsur

ing

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g ed

ucat

ion

is p

riorit

ised

, alig

ned

with

stu

dent

men

tal h

ealth

and

wel

l-bei

ng

incl

uded

with

in fu

ture

str

ateg

ic d

ocum

ents

.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

3R

ecog

nisi

ng th

at s

choo

ls a

re r

equi

red

to c

ompl

y w

ith a

la

rge

num

ber

of p

olic

ies,

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Edu

catio

n sh

ould

hig

hlig

ht a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g ed

ucat

ion

as a

pr

iorit

y th

roug

h ex

istin

g sy

stem

s an

d co

mm

unic

atio

ns

that

set

dire

ctio

ns a

nd e

xpec

tatio

ns fo

r sc

hool

s an

d sc

hool

ser

vice

s (s

uch

as th

roug

h th

e D

irect

or

Gen

eral

’s F

ocus

doc

umen

t).

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n. In

add

ress

ing

this

rec

omm

enda

tion,

the

incl

usio

n of

sta

tem

ents

with

in s

trat

egic

do

cum

ents

to p

riorit

ise

alco

hol a

nd d

rug

educ

atio

n w

ill im

pact

di

rect

ly o

n W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

n pu

blic

sch

ools

pro

vidi

ng th

e op

port

unity

to im

med

iate

ly a

nd r

espo

nsiv

ely

dire

ct o

pera

tions

of

scho

ols

and

supp

ort s

ervi

ces.

In a

dditi

on, s

tate

-wid

e in

itiat

ives

to

pro

vide

targ

eted

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

educ

atio

n w

ill al

so

be d

evel

oped

to p

rom

ote

the

valu

e of

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

educ

atio

n in

the

cont

ext o

f chi

ldre

n an

d yo

ung

peop

le’s

hea

lth a

nd

wel

lbei

ng.

4Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of E

duca

tion

mon

itor

and

publ

icly

re

port

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

prog

ram

del

iver

y in

pu

blic

sch

ools

to e

nsur

e al

ignm

ent w

ith b

est p

ract

ice

and

effe

ctiv

e ta

rget

ing

of in

divi

dual

s an

d/o

r gr

oups

of

stud

ents

at g

reat

er r

isk.

Sup

port

edTh

is r

ecom

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed, a

nd w

ill be

res

pond

ed to

th

roug

h co

ntin

ued

mon

itorin

g an

d re

port

ing

on a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dr

ug e

duca

tion

prog

ram

s in

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

publ

ic s

choo

ls.

5Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of E

duca

tion

unde

rtak

e an

d pu

blic

ly r

epor

t on

an in

depe

nden

t eva

luat

ion

of th

e ef

fect

iven

ess

of it

s cu

rren

t sch

ool-b

ased

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her

drug

edu

catio

n pr

ogra

ms

and

reso

urce

s.

The

resu

lts o

f the

eva

luat

ion

will

be u

sed

to in

form

im

prov

emen

ts to

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

educ

atio

n pr

ogra

ms

and

reso

urce

s.

Sup

port

edIn

res

pons

e to

this

rec

omm

enda

tion

an in

depe

nden

t rev

iew

of

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g sc

hool

edu

catio

n pr

ogra

ms

can

fost

er

ongo

ing

impr

ovem

ents

to a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g pr

ogra

ms

and

reso

urce

s; p

rom

ote

alig

nmen

t with

evi

denc

e-ba

sed

and

evid

ence

-info

rmed

pra

ctic

e; a

nd id

entif

y op

port

uniti

es fo

r st

rong

er

part

ners

hips

and

col

labo

rativ

e ap

proa

ches

.


Lea

d A

gen

cy: D

epar

tmen

t o

f th

e P

rem

ier

and

Cab

inet

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

12Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he P

rem

ier

and

Cab

inet

and

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

, with

the

WA

Prim

ary

Hea

lth A

llianc

e an

d al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

sect

or,

to c

onsu

lt w

ith th

e C

omm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent o

n m

easu

res

to im

prov

e re

ferr

al to

alc

ohol

and

oth

er d

rug

spec

ialis

t tre

atm

ent s

ervi

ces

by G

Ps.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n, a

ckno

wle

dgin

g th

at

GP

's a

re o

ften

a fir

st p

oint

of c

onta

ct fo

r m

any

peop

le im

pact

ed b

y m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use.

The

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

will

wor

k in

co

llabo

ratio

n w

ith th

e W

A P

rimar

y H

ealth

Allia

nce

and

alco

hol a

nd

othe

r dr

ug s

ecto

r, to

dev

elop

initi

ativ

es to

sup

port

aw

aren

ess

of

and

impr

ove

refe

rral

to a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g sp

ecia

list t

reat

men

t se

rvic

es b

y G

P's

and

oth

er h

ealth

pro

fess

iona

ls. T

he D

epar

tmen

t of

the

Pre

mie

r an

d C

abin

et w

ill as

sist

with

Com

mon

wea

lth G

over

nmen

t co

nsul

tatio

n to

sup

port

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

31Th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

orks

with

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Pre

mie

r an

d C

abin

et to

pro

pose

to

the

Min

iste

rial F

orum

on

Alc

ohol

and

Dru

gs th

at

futu

re C

omm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent r

esou

rces

al

loca

ted

to a

ddre

ss m

etha

mph

etam

ine

use

shou

ld b

e ap

port

ione

d ba

sed

on th

e m

ost r

ecen

t cen

sus

data

an

d th

e re

lativ

e 'n

eed'

or

mag

nitu

de o

f the

pro

blem

in

eac

h st

ate,

to e

nabl

e ap

prop

riate

leve

ls o

f fun

ding

su

ppor

t to

be p

rovi

ded

to a

ddre

ss u

se in

reg

iona

l WA

.

Sup

port

edTh

is r

ecom

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed in

line

with

the

Gov

ernm

ent’s

ro

le in

adv

ocat

ing

for

WA’

s fa

ir sh

are

of C

omm

onw

ealth

fund

ing

and

is c

onsi

sten

t with

Com

mon

wea

lth’s

join

t par

liam

enta

ry c

omm

ittee

re

com

men

datio

n. T

he D

epar

tmen

t of t

he P

rem

ier

and

Cab

inet

, in

cons

ulta

tion

with

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

and

oth

er r

elev

ant

stak

ehol

ders

, will

lead

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f an

enga

gem

ent s

trat

egy

to

supp

ort t

his

reco

mm

enda

tion.

32M

inis

ter

for

Men

tal H

ealth

, thr

ough

the

Min

iste

rial D

rug

and

Alc

ohol

For

um, p

ropo

ses

that

a p

lace

-bas

ed

plan

ning

and

inve

stm

ent p

rogr

am b

e pi

lote

d in

WA

w

ithin

12

mon

ths,

sup

port

ed b

y th

e In

tegr

ated

Atla

s of

Men

tal H

ealth

, Alc

ohol

and

Oth

er D

rugs

– W

este

rn

Aus

tral

ia, w

hen

final

ised

.

Sup

port

edW

hils

t thi

s re

com

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed b

y th

e G

over

nmen

t, lia

ison

bet

wee

n th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he P

rem

ier

and

Cab

inet

and

M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

ill be

req

uire

d to

iden

tify

an a

ppro

pria

te

cons

ulta

tion

stra

tegy

in a

ddre

ssin

g th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n.


No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

48A

Par

liam

enta

ry C

omm

ittee

inqu

iry in

to a

nd r

epor

t on

alte

rnat

ive

mod

els

for

drug

reg

ulat

ion,

reg

ulat

ory

syst

ems

and

cont

rols

in o

ther

juris

dict

ions

, inc

ludi

ng

both

pro

hibi

tion

and

non-

proh

ibiti

on m

odel

s, th

eir

effe

ctiv

enes

s in

add

ress

ing

the

cost

s an

d ha

rms

to

indi

vidu

als,

fam

ilies

and

the

com

mun

ity a

nd th

eir

suita

bilit

y fo

r in

trod

uctio

n in

to W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

. Thi

s in

quiry

sho

uld

:

w

be b

ipar

tisan

in s

truc

ture

and

com

posi

tion;

w

be s

ubje

ct to

spe

cific

rep

ortin

g tim

e-fra

mes

;

w

invo

lve

cons

ulta

tion

acro

ss th

e al

coho

l and

oth

er

drug

sec

tor;

w

be o

pen

to a

nd e

ngag

e w

ith th

e pu

blic

; and

w

be r

equi

red

to r

epor

t to

the

Par

liam

ent o

f Wes

tern

A

ustr

alia

on

the

outc

omes

of t

he in

quiry

.

Not

ed

On

17 O

ctob

er 2

018

a bi

part

isan

Leg

isla

tive

Cou

ncil

Par

liam

enta

ry

Sel

ect C

omm

ittee

, Cha

ired

by H

on. A

lison

Xam

on M

LC w

as

esta

blis

hed

to c

ondu

ct a

n In

quiry

into

alte

rnat

e ap

proa

ches

to

redu

cing

illic

it dr

ug u

se a

nd it

s ef

fect

s on

the

com

mun

ity. T

he S

elec

t C

omm

ittee

is d

ue to

rep

ort i

ts fi

ndin

gs to

the

Par

liam

ent w

ithin

12

mon

ths

of it

s es

tabl

ishm

ent.

The

Term

s of

Ref

eren

ce a

nd p

roce

sses

of

the

Sel

ect C

omm

ittee

add

ress

this

rec

omm

enda

tion.

50Th

e G

over

nmen

t, as

par

t of t

he M

achi

nery

of

Gov

ernm

ent c

hang

es, c

onsi

der

how

the

Sta

te’s

al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

resp

onse

can

be

give

n gr

eate

r pr

iorit

y ac

ross

all

port

folio

s an

d ho

w it

can

be

mos

t ef

fect

ivel

y po

sitio

ned

with

in th

e pu

blic

sec

tor

to

max

imis

e ef

ficie

ncy,

effe

ctiv

enes

s an

d en

gage

men

t w

ith th

e co

mm

unity

. In

part

icul

ar, t

he G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

com

mis

sion

an

inde

pend

ent b

ody/

inve

stig

ator

to

det

erm

ine

the

exte

nt to

whi

ch th

e ob

ject

ives

of

the

amal

gam

atio

n of

the

Men

tal H

ealth

Com

mis

sion

an

d th

e D

rug

and

Alc

ohol

Offi

ce in

201

5 ha

ve b

een

achi

eved

with

the

view

to im

prov

ing

acco

unta

bilit

y an

d tr

ansp

aren

cy o

f ser

vice

del

iver

y.

Sup

port

edTh

is r

ecom

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed b

y th

e G

over

nmen

t. It

is n

oted

th

at in

add

ress

ing

this

rec

omm

enda

tion,

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

P

rem

ier

and

Cab

inet

will

cons

ult w

ith th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on

to c

onsi

der

the

pote

ntia

l rev

iew

of t

he c

urre

nt a

rran

gem

ents

to

exam

ine

to w

hat e

xten

t ser

vice

s ar

e de

liver

ing,

or

have

the

capa

bilit

y an

d ca

paci

ty to

del

iver

the

iden

tified

bes

t pra

ctic

es, r

ecog

nisi

ng th

at

reco

mm

enda

tions

from

the

Offi

ce o

f the

Aud

itor

Gen

eral

rev

iew

into

tr

eatm

ent s

ervi

ces

for

peop

le w

ith m

etha

mph

etam

ine

depe

nden

ce

may

be

rele

vant

and

not

ing

the

broa

der

cont

ext o

f pre

viou

s M

achi

nery

of G

over

nmen

t cha

nges

.


Lea

d A

gen

cy: D

epar

tmen

t o

f Ju

stic

e

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

37Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of J

ustic

e an

d ot

her

rele

vant

age

ncie

s in

trod

uce

inte

grat

ed a

ppro

ache

s to

the

asse

ssm

ent

and

trea

tmen

t of a

llege

d of

fend

ers

that

pro

vide

a

holis

tic, c

ase-

man

aged

app

roac

h to

trea

tmen

t and

su

ppor

t.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is re

com

men

datio

n. A

ctiv

ity is

bei

ng

inve

stig

ated

for f

utur

e in

tegr

atio

n of

ser

vice

s ac

ross

cou

rts.

The

m

odel

s be

ing

cons

ider

ed a

re te

am b

ased

and

are

aim

ed a

t div

ertin

g ac

cuse

d pe

rson

s to

app

ropr

iate

pro

gram

s an

d se

rvic

es th

at a

re b

ased

on

thei

r lev

el o

f ris

k of

re-o

ffend

ing

and

serv

ice

need

s.

38Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of J

ustic

e ex

pand

s dr

ug a

nd a

lcoh

ol

thro

ugh-

care

ser

vice

s to

ens

ure

that

pris

oner

s on

re

man

d w

ho a

re r

elea

sed

from

cus

tody

are

effe

ctiv

ely

conn

ecte

d to

sup

port

and

trea

tmen

t ser

vice

s in

the

com

mun

ity.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is re

com

men

datio

n w

hich

can

be

addr

esse

d by

the

expa

nsio

n of

the

exis

ting

mod

el o

f alc

ohol

and

oth

er

drug

thro

ugh-

care

for p

rison

ers

on re

man

d an

d th

ose

who

hav

e be

en

rele

ased

from

cus

tody

. The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Jus

tice

will

enga

ge w

ith

alco

hol a

nd o

ther

dru

g se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

to e

nsur

e th

e tre

atm

ent n

eeds

of

offe

nder

s tra

nsiti

onin

g in

to c

omm

unity

car

e ar

e ta

ken

into

acc

ount

in

the

furt

her d

evel

opm

ent o

f com

mun

ity-b

ased

ser

vice

s.

39Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of J

ustic

e en

sure

s th

at a

ll pe

rson

s in

cu

stod

y, in

clud

ing

rem

ande

d an

d se

nten

ced

offe

nder

s,

are

asse

ssed

for a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g us

e, in

clud

ing

met

ham

phet

amin

e, a

nd a

re p

rovi

ded

with

inte

rven

tion

and

treat

men

t to

mee

t the

nee

ds id

entifi

ed.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

is re

com

men

datio

n w

hich

is a

ddre

ssed

by

all

pris

oner

s be

ing

asse

ssed

by

a nu

rse

with

in 2

4 ho

urs

and

med

ical

ca

re p

rovi

ded

equi

vale

nt to

that

in th

e co

mm

unity

. Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Just

ice

will

also

wor

k w

ith k

ey s

take

hold

ers

to b

ette

r lin

k pr

ison

ers

with

co

mm

unity

bas

ed s

ervi

ces

they

can

acc

ess

upon

rele

ase.

40Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of J

ustic

e ex

pand

s dr

ug a

nd a

lcoh

ol

thro

ugh-

care

ser

vice

s to

sen

tenc

ed p

rison

ers

in

regi

onal

pris

ons.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t sup

port

s th

e re

quire

men

t for

an

expa

nsio

n of

dru

g an

d al

coho

l thr

ough

car

e se

rvic

es fo

r re

gion

al p

rison

ers.

With

in th

e ne

wly

aw

arde

d R

ehab

ilitat

ion

and

Rei

nteg

ratio

n S

ervi

ces

cont

ract

s,

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Jus

tice

has

ensu

red

that

non

-gov

ernm

ent

orga

nisa

tions

will

prov

ide

acce

ss fo

r pris

oner

s po

st-r

elea

se to

alc

ohol

an

d ot

her

drug

ser

vice

s in

the

com

mun

ity to

ens

ure

a th

roug

h ca

re

of s

ervi

ce w

hen

tran

sitio

ning

bac

k in

to th

e co

mm

unity

.

41Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

and

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Ju

stic

e in

trod

uce

need

le-s

yrin

ge e

xcha

nge

prog

ram

s in

WA

pris

ons,

as

part

of t

he r

espo

nse

to th

e A

udito

r G

ener

al r

ecom

men

datio

n th

at “

The

Dep

artm

ent

of J

ustic

e re

view

cur

rent

trea

tmen

t app

roac

hes

to

dem

and

and

harm

red

uctio

n, to

ens

ure

they

are

up-

to-

date

and

abl

e to

mee

t the

div

erse

nee

ds o

f pris

oner

s”.

Not

Sup

port

ed

The

Gov

ernm

ent d

oes

not s

uppo

rt th

is r

ecom

men

datio

n. W

hils

t th

e go

vern

men

t is

not c

onsi

derin

g th

e in

trod

uctio

n of

nee

dle

and

syrin

ge e

xcha

nge

in th

e pr

ison

set

ting,

alte

rnat

ive

harm

min

imis

atio

n st

rate

gies

invo

lvin

g th

e ex

pans

ion

and

cont

inua

tion

of e

xist

ing

prog

ram

s w

ill be

pro

gres

sed

to r

educ

e th

e ha

rms

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

illici

t dru

g us

e an

d to

mee

t the

div

erse

nee

ds o

f pris

oner

s.


Lea

d A

gen

cy: D

epar

tmen

t o

f C

om

mu

nit

ies

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

6In

ord

er to

stre

ngth

en c

omm

unity

leve

l pro

tect

ive

fact

ors

aim

ed a

t you

ng p

eopl

e an

d th

eir f

amilie

s, th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Com

mun

ities

ens

ures

exi

stin

g ev

iden

ce-b

ased

, bes

t pr

actic

e m

odel

s fo

r ado

lesc

ent l

eisu

re o

r ext

racu

rric

ular

ac

tiviti

es a

re im

plem

ente

d m

ore

broa

dly

in W

A.

Sup

port

edYo

ung

peop

le a

nd y

outh

are

a k

ey p

riorit

y ar

ea a

cros

s go

vern

men

t, es

peci

ally

in r

elat

ion

to th

e pr

even

tion

of a

lcoh

ol a

nd o

ther

dru

g us

e an

d re

late

d ha

rm. S

truc

ture

d yo

uth

deve

lopm

ent o

ppor

tuni

ties

and

activ

ities

hav

e th

e po

tent

ial t

o en

cour

age

and

supp

ort t

heir

part

icip

atio

n in

the

com

mun

ity, a

nd b

uild

thei

r co

nfide

nce

and

resi

lienc

e. A

ll of

the

se a

re im

port

ant p

rote

ctiv

e fa

ctor

s ag

ains

t al

coho

l and

oth

er d

rug

use.

Lea

d A

gen

cy: W

ork

Saf

e (D

epar

tmen

t o

f M

ines

, In

du

stry

Reg

ula

tio

n an

d S

afet

y)

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

13W

orkS

afe

in c

olla

bora

tion

with

the

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on to

wor

k w

ith e

mpl

oyer

and

em

ploy

ee

peak

bod

ies

to d

evel

op a

str

ateg

y to

bui

ld th

e ca

paci

ty

of (p

artic

ular

ly s

mal

l bus

ines

s) e

mpl

oyer

s to

bet

ter

man

age

and

supp

ort e

mpl

oyee

s w

ith d

rug

and

alco

hol

cond

ition

s in

clud

ing

the

man

agem

ent o

f occ

upat

iona

l he

alth

and

saf

ety

risks

.

Sup

port

edTh

e G

over

nmen

t is

supp

ortiv

e of

this

rec

omm

enda

tion

and

ackn

owle

dges

the

impo

rtan

ce o

f str

engt

heni

ng th

e ca

paci

ty o

f th

e w

orkf

orce

to s

uppo

rt e

mpl

oyee

s w

ith d

rug

and

alco

hol-r

elat

ed

prob

lem

s. T

his

reco

mm

enda

tion

will

be a

chie

ved

thro

ugh

the

revi

ew o

f exi

stin

g an

d de

velo

pmen

t of n

ew a

ppro

pria

te r

esou

rces

to

build

the

capa

city

of w

orkp

lace

s. C

olla

bora

tion

betw

een

Wor

kSaf

e an

d th

e M

enta

l Hea

lth C

omm

issi

on w

ill be

impo

rtan

t to

ensu

re

reso

urce

s an

d in

itiat

ives

are

bas

ed o

n ex

istin

g an

d em

ergi

ng

evid

ence

-bas

ed p

ract

ice

abou

t effe

ctiv

e re

spon

ses

to a

lcoh

ol a

nd

othe

r dr

ug is

sues

as

they

pre

sent

in w

orkp

lace

s.


Lea

d A

gen

cy: D

epar

tmen

t o

f Tr

easu

ry

No

.R

eco

mm

end

atio

nR

esp

on

seS

tatu

s

54Th

e D

epar

tmen

t of T

reas

ury

and

the

Men

tal H

ealth

C

omm

issi

on e

stab

lish

a w

orki

ng g

roup

to d

efine

a

stra

tegy

for

the

adop

tion

of a

soc

ial i

mpa

ct in

vest

men

t ap

proa

ch, i

nclu

ding

iden

tifyi

ng p

oten

tial a

reas

in

whi

ch a

soc

ial i

mpa

ct b

ond

coul

d be

cre

ated

, for

the

Gov

ernm

ent’s

con

side

ratio

n.

Sup

port

edTh

is re

com

men

datio

n is

sup

port

ed b

y th

e G

over

nmen

t and

it is

not

ed

that

in a

ddre

ssin

g th

e re

com

men

datio

n, th

e D

epar

tmen

t of T

reas

ury

will

cons

ider

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a w

hole

-of-

gove

rnm

ent a

ppro

ach

for

the

appl

icat

ion

of s

ocia

l im

pact

inve

stm

ent.

It is

ack

now

ledg

ed

that

soc

ial i

mpa

ct in

vest

men

ts h

ave

not y

et b

een

vent

ured

into

by

the

Sta

te a

nd a

s su

ch, a

sys

tem

atic

, who

le-o

f-go

vern

men

t app

roac

h w

ould

be

impo

rtan

t in

dete

rmin

ing

area

s of

nee

d an

d po

tent

ial

bene

fit.


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