2018-19 State Budget

The 2018-19 WA State Budget has been handed down by the Treasurer, with a record $918.4 million allocated to improving Western Australians’ mental health and wellbeing and reducing alcohol and other drug related harms.

This represents a $4.2 million increase for mental health, alcohol and other drug services in 2018-19. This will grow to $970.4 million by 2021-22, representing an increase of $56.2 million compared to 2017-18

Initiatives funded in the 2018-19 budget include:

• $9.3 million over four years to open up to 33 alcohol and other drug low medical withdrawal and residential rehabilitation beds in the South West in 2019;
• $7.7 million for a new 10 bed step up/step down service in Geraldton; and
• $400,000 in 2018-19 to continue prevention and education initiatives as part of the Methamphetamine Action Plan.

The below image outlines how the budget has been allocated between the various service types of the WA Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015-2025.

More information is available through the:

• Mental Health Commission’s 2018–19 Budget Bulletin
• Media statements from the Minister for Mental Health
• 2018-19 Budget Papers