The Chief Psychiatrist’s Annual Report 2022-23 has been tabled in WA Parliament.
The Chief Psychiatrist issues an Annual Report on the functions and statutory requirements under the requirements of the Mental Health Act 2014. The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (OCP) is the agency that supports the Chief Psychiatrist. This report highlights the key achievements of the Chief Psychiatrist and the Office for the year ending 30 June 2023.
The Chief Psychiatrist, through the OCP, actively monitors the standards of treatment and care in mental health services. The Annual Report, through the data and narrative, makes transparent the progress and the ongoing challenges of the provision of mental health services in a complex environment. The significant majority of care in the sector is very good. There are important ongoing areas of focus for development. The Chief Psychiatrist requires all services to be constantly learning and improving.
The Independent Governance Review, which included the mental health, during this reporting period has offered the opportunity for enhancement of leadership and oversight in the mental health sector. As the current state plan enters its final years, it will be timely to begin to consider the development of the next iteration of the state mental health, alcohol and other drug and suicide prevention plan, and this offers the opportunity to reclarify the direction of service development.
The Annual Report captures a period of significant development at our Office, including the establishment of our Kaatadjiny Walbraaniny Danjoo – Learning to Heal Together project. I’m grateful to the Noongar Elders and young people who’ve participated in this ongoing process to deepen our connection to and understanding of the Aboriginal community so that we can work to provide better mental health outcomes for the Aboriginal peoples in Western Australia. I extend that gratitude to the OCP team who have committed to embedding Aboriginal ways of working into what we do at the OCP and to the Curtin University research team who have helped facilitate this process.
Significantly, during the period of the Annual Report, the OCP undertook an extensive series of reviews of the state’s psychiatric hostels, which provide accommodation and supports for some of our most vulnerable consumers. This important piece of work will be completed in 2023.
This reporting period also saw the OCP develop and operationalise its own Strategic Plan 2023-25. Built on the values of Leadership, Integrity, Respect, Accountability and Commitment, this Strategic Plan will guide our work for the coming years, enabling us to facilitate the uptake of best practice in standards of mental health care, address priority issues and gaps in the mental health sector, increase our impact through productive relationships and continue to build the foundations of a strong and sustainable Office.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the team at the OCP who make this work possible. The work presented in this annual report is only made possible through the dedication, commitment and passion for improving the standards of mental health care in Western Australia.
Dr. Nathan Gibson,
Chief Psychiatrist