Psychiatrists say today’s budget doesn’t do enough for West Australians missing out on mental healthcare, particularly those with more severe and complex conditions who need specialist care.

While the WA Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has welcomed the State Government’s investment in some key initiatives, including over $65 million towards infant, child and adolescent mental health services, and over $22 million for drug and alcohol services in regional WA, psychiatrists remain concerned about the severe mental health workforce shortages across the state.

 “While we welcome continued engagement with the State Government on psychiatry workforce planning, we are disappointed by the absence of any new or additional funding in today’s budget to address the psychiatry workforce crisis facing WA right now,” said Dr Murugesh Nidyananda, RANZCP WA Branch Chair.

“Over the last 10 years, more and more people are presenting to emergency departments needing urgent and emergency mental healthcare. This tells us people aren’t getting the right help early enough, particularly people with more severe and complex mental healthcare needs.”

Western Australia has the second lowest number of psychiatrists per capita, with only 13.5 full-time psychiatrists per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 15.3. However, since 2022, WA has had the highest population growth of all states and territories.  

“Our population is growing, rates of mental ill-health are growing, but we have a severe shortage of psychiatrists and we aren’t training enough to close the gap. It’s the people with the greatest need who will be most severely impacted,” said Dr Nidyananda. 

In addition to growing the psychiatry workforce, the RANZCP WA Branch is also calling for investment to increase integration across the system, with specific funding for neuropsychiatric liaison services, women’s mental health programs and a Centre of Excellence in Personality Disorders.

“The people who need these services are high priority groups who often miss out on receiving the type and frequency of care they need. It’s not enough, disjointed, lacks follow-through or isn’t specifically tailored to their needs. As a result, they’re more likely to end up in emergency departments needing urgent help, or their condition can become more complex and difficult to manage. 

“The right mental healthcare is life-saving and life-changing. People deserve more than cycling in and out of a crisis-driven system.”

The WA Branch has welcomed a number of commitments from today’s budget, including:

• Infant, child and adolescent mental health investment -
  • $12 million over four years for the Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub
  • $14 million over four years to establish an Acute Care and Response team in Bunbury
  • $40 million over four years for Ngala to deliver early intervention programs to new parents in a residential setting
• Additional $2.7 million over four years for hospital mental health services
• Additional $27 million for the expansion of the Cockburn Clinic in 2025-2026
• $5 million over three years for the planning and scoping stage of a new residential eating disorder service
• $12 million over four years to open the Great Southern Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre in Albany
• $10.8 million over four years for additional Aboriginal health and alcohol and other drug services in the Kimberley
• $104 million over four years for a new emergency department for the Royal Perth Hospital, including a dedicated urgent mental health treatment area 
• $11 million one-year extension of the Active Recovery Teams pilot 

“But at a time when workforce shortages are putting immense strain on the system, practitioners and the community, we need to be seeing significant, urgent and sustained investment in growing the workforce. 

“We will continue to work with the State Government to attract, train, and retain enough psychiatrists to address the unmet mental healthcare needs across WA.”

ENQUIRIES: For more information, or to arrange an interview call Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention