Skip to main content
Home
  • The Legislative Assembly meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Assembly sit 16/04/2024
  • The Legislative Council meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Council sit 16/04/2024
  • The Public Administration meets on 08/04/2024 (10:00 AM)
    Committee meet 08/04/2024

Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1199 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 November 2018 by Hon Colin Tincknell

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

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.