Reforms to improve patient care in the mental health system

• Reforms to improve leadership, accountability and collaboration of the WA mental health and alcohol and other drugs system
• Following the Independent Review of WA Health System Governance, a working group was established to work alongside key stakeholders, consumers, carers, and family members, to develop a clear model for best practice in mental health governance
• Part of the Cook Government's commitment to embedding lived experience into our health system

The Cook Government will introduce a package of reforms to improve leadership, accountability, collaboration, and co-ordination of the Western Australian mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) system.

In response to the Independent Review of the WA Health System Governance, the State Government made a commitment to undertake further investigations as to how mental health governance issues could be addressed.

The Independent Review found that mental health and AOD governance needed improvement by clarifying leadership, having stronger accountability mechanisms, and better collaboration between the Mental Health Commission (MHC) and the Department of Health on planning, funding, and overseeing system performance.

Following further work undertaken, the State Government will now move to:

• Develop a new mental health and AOD strategy, that prioritises delivery of a recovery-oriented, community-focused, and integrated system;
• Establish a Ministerial Advisory Panel, with membership from mental health and AOD community sector leaders and lived experience leaders;
• Establish a Lived Experience Advisory Group, and a Clinical Advisory Group, to work with key system leaders;
• Embed a dedicated senior mental health executive position, within each Health Service Provider (HSP), reporting directly to the Chief Executive;
• Set up Lived Experience, Aboriginal and AOD leadership roles within the MHC; and
• Prioritise capacity building and understandings of contemporary approaches to mental health and AOD service delivery.

The Independent Review of WA Health System Governance panel was established in January 2022 to assess governance of the WA health system.

The Independent Review made 55 recommendations about key opportunities, to improve governance practices and processes across the health system, including four recommendations on the governance of mental health and (AOD) public systems and services.

Comments attributed to Health and Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

"We are committed to ensuring patient care and lived experience expertise is at the centre of our mental health system and that includes in leadership positions.

"Mental health reform will continue over many years. These reforms will help to strike a better balance between clinical, and lived experience, with a focus on recovery and supporting people to live their best lives."