METHAMPHETAMINE ACTION
PLAN — FUNDING
532. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to the media
statement of 7 May 2019 titled ''McGowan Government takes action on
methamphetamine issues''.
(1) How much of
the $614 000 allocated to alcohol and other drug training for frontline workers
such as psychologists, social workers and counsellors has been spent?
(2) Into which
high-demand regional areas, including the great southern and Bunbury, has the
needle syringe exchange program been expanded?
(3) How much of the $1.52 million
allocated for the program in (2) has been spent to date?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The Mental
Health Commission advises as follows. In response to the Methamphetamine Action
Plan Taskforce recommendations, $614 000 was allocated to the Mental Health
Commission in 2019–20 for the delivery of regional frontline worker
training over four years; $150 000 was allocated in 2019–20; $152 000
was allocated in 2020–21; $155 000 was allocated in 2021–22;
and $157 000 will be allocated in 2022–23 for the ongoing provision of
training and support for frontline workers in regional areas.
Up to 30 June 2021, a total of $302 000
has been expended to deliver regional frontline worker training. Costs have
included one staff member, travel and event venues and catering.
In 2019–20, 14 events were
provided to 286 frontline workers, and in 2020–21, 16 events were
delivered to 289 frontline workers.
WA Health advises as follows.
(2) Through the
Great Southern Population Health Unit, needle syringe exchange program services
have been opened in Albany and Katanning.
In the south west, a non-government
organisation, Peer Based Harm Reduction WA, has been funded to allow for additional hours of operation for the
existing needle syringe exchange program that it operates in Bunbury,
and additional hours of outreach services.
(3) Funding of $1.52 million for the services referred
to in (2) was allocated over a four-year period—2019–20 to 2022–23. Funding of $760 000 for the
first two financial years of the four-year period has been expended to
30 June 2021.