MEN'S SHEDS OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
1199. Hon COLIN TINCKNELL to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
Last Monday we celebrated
International Men's Day. One focus of the day is to highlight issues
facing men, including the high rates of suicide and lack of services in place
to support men, such as men's sheds.
(1) Are men's sheds
continuing to be funded at the state level as well as the federal level?
(2) If yes to (1), has there been an increase in
funding for men's sheds in regional WA over the past five years?
(3) What is the government doing to
increase the number of men's sheds in regional WA?
(4) Has the
government funded any other wellness and preventive initiatives in regional WA
to support men's mental health?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
On behalf of the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health, I thank the honourable member
for some notice of the question.
(1) The Western Australian
Department of Health does not currently fund Men's Sheds of WA and is
unable to comment on federal funding arrangements.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The WA men's
health and wellbeing policy is currently being developed. The purpose of the
policy is to provide direction to the WA health system and its partners to
deliver strategies that improve the physical, mental, social and emotional
wellbeing of men and boys right across Western Australia.
(4) Yes. In
2018–19, the WA Country Health Service is providing funding to the
Albany Men's Resource Centre for the provision of a men's
health resource service for men and their families in the City of Albany and
surrounding areas of the lower great southern region; and Men's
Outreach Service Inc to provide support to clients and promote the
establishment of men's groups in Aboriginal communities across the West Kimberley. In addition, WACHS is currently
funded by the Mental Health Commission for 2018–19 to provide
suicide and prevention coordinators in the Kimberley and midwest regions.
Although not specific to the prevention of male suicide, there is recognition
of the high rates for males.