Question Without Notice No. 842 asked in the Legislative Council on 9 November 2017 by Hon Martin Aldridge
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
GERALDTON SOBERING UP CENTRE
842. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the Geraldton Sobering Up Centre run by Hope Community Services Ltd.
(1) When did the service agreement commence and when will it conclude?
(2) What are the expected service level activities in accordance with the service agreement and what service levels have been achieved over the life of the agreement to date?
(3) What alternative arrangements will be put in place to meet the need in Geraldton and surrounding areas?
(4) On what dates did Hon Darren West and Hon Laurie Graham made formal representations to the minister about the withdrawal of funding and will he table that correspondence?
Hon ALANNA CLOHESY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I am advised the following.
(1) The current service agreement with Hope Community Services commenced on 1 January 2015 and will conclude on 31 December 2017.
(2) The expected service level in accordance with the service agreement is 2 340 to 3 744 admissions a year. In 2015, there were 1 284 admissions; in 2016, there were 1 447 admissions; and for the period 1 January to 30 June, there were 845 admissions.
(3) Clients attending the sobering-up service will be supported to access a range of services providing alcohol and drug treatment and crisis accommodation in Geraldton. The available services include the following Mental Health Commission–funded services. The Midwest Community Alcohol and Drug Service provides assessment, outpatient counselling, prevention and diversion services for people with alcohol and other drug problems. Alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation is provided by Hope Springs Community Farm, located 30 kilometres south of Geraldton. Transitional accommodation is provided for people leaving residential treatment.
Additionally, the following services are available to provide support. Cameliers hostel in central Geraldton provides low-cost, supported accommodation for short-stay and longer stay residents; Sun City Care provides crisis accommodation at Rangeway in Geraldton; and, Sun City Care operates the Wandalgu residential program for people who experience issues with substance use, relationships, employment and maintaining tenancies.
(4) Hon Darren West formally wrote to my office on 8 November 2017.