Mind Australia welcomes the Western Australian Government’s strong commitment to mental health, with more than $400 million in additional funding allocated to mental health initiatives in the 2026-27 Western Australian State Budget released yesterday.
Mind is delighted to receive funding to continue delivering the Active Recovery Team (ART) program in Mandurah for at least another four years. The Peel ART program provides a blend of clinical and psychosocial supports that help people manage mental distress and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues, while reducing repetitive presentations to Emergency Departments.
Peel ART service users receive coordinated, responsive and tailored wrap-around support for up to 90 days. Each participant is provided with an individual recovery plan that includes a transition plan following discharge from the program.
Mind is also pleased to see the Western Australian Government invest in new Step Up Step Down services in Broome, Karratha and South Hedland, as well as a Youth Step Up Step Down in metropolitan Perth.
Step Up Step Downs are critical parts of mental health systems across Australia. They support people to transition back into the community after a hospital stay, while also providing an alternative to a hospital stay for someone experiencing distress.
At Mind, we see the life-changing value of Step Up Step Downs every day, including at the Rockingham Step Up Step Down, which we proudly deliver in partnership with South Metropolitan Health Service.
Mind’s Executive Director of Operations for Western Australia, Denise Cumming, said continued investment in community-based mental health services, like the ART program, and new Step Up Step Down services, reflect a broader reform agenda focused on strengthening the mental health system that will support people earlier, closer to home and outside of hospital settings wherever possible.
“These services play a vital role in supporting people experiencing mental distress to access coordinated, recovery-focused care, while reducing the need for hospital admissions and easing pressure on Emergency Departments,” Ms Cumming said.
“The expansion of Step Up Step Down services, alongside continued investment in programs like Peel ART, reflects the importance of integrated clinical and psychosocial supports that help people manage their mental health and wellbeing, and stay connected to their communities.”
“The Western Australian Government should be commended for its investment, which strongly aligns with the Mental Health Commission’s new Mental Health & Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy (2026-2031). This strategy prioritises community-based alternatives to Emergency Departments, integrated psychosocial and clinical supports, community bed-based recovery, youth mental health responses and improved access to support across regional WA.”
Mind also applauds the Western Australian Government for investing in new and innovative approaches to supporting people experiencing mental distress, including its commitment to WA’s first Crisis Recovery and Intervention Support Service.
Timely, compassionate and community-based responses are critical for people experiencing mental health crisis, and this initiative has strong potential to improve access to care and support when people need it most. We look forward to learning more about this new model and how it will work alongside existing services to deliver the best possible outcomes for Western Australians.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Western Australian Government to ensure everyone has access to the mental health support they need and deserve, including people living with psychosocial disability whose needs remain unmet.
“The upcoming negotiations between federal and state/territory governments on the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, alongside the implementation of Foundational Supports, will be critical to achieving this,” Ms Cumming said.