Closing the Gap funding continues

• $31million Closing the Gap funds to continue critical services aimed at improving health and wellbeing of Aboriginal West Australians

• $412,000 for Closing the Gap Mental Health services

• Cabinet subcommittee to oversee improved co-ordination of service delivery

The State Government has announced new funding of more than $31million to continue critical services to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal West Australians under the Closing the Gap program.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the Closing the Gap funding created 98 new programs and 317 jobs across Government, non-government and the Aboriginal community to deliver vital services.

"Closing the Gap aims to improve the life expectancy of Aboriginal West Australians and, while much has been achieved so far, there is still much more work to be done," Dr Hames said.

"The $31million the WA Government has committed to today is for 2013-14 and will enable us to continue to deliver these critical services over the next year, which gives job security to those workers engaged in the delivery of these services."

The funding builds on the $117million investment over four years from the Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes National Partnership Agreement, agreed on by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2008 and due to expire on June 30, 2013.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said an additional $412,000 had also been approved for Mental Health Commission Closing the Gap services to continue.

"This funding will ensure the continuation of State-wide specialist Aboriginal mental health services, which are critical in meeting the mental health demand of Aboriginal West Australians," Mrs Morton said.

Dr Hames said the new State Government Aboriginal Affairs Cabinet Subcommittee, comprising of the Ministers for Aboriginal Affairs, Health, Mental Health and Regional Development, would improve co-ordination of the Closing the Gap services and funding.

"This committee will drive better co-ordination across Government and improve collaboration with Aboriginal leaders and the non-government sector. The committee will monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure the objectives of Closing the Gap are met," he said.

"Here in WA, we have a good system in place for administering the Closing the Gap funding, because those groups providing services have their own KPIs in place, but there is definitely scope for the Government as a whole to deliver these services more efficiently and effectively, and to minimise duplication.

"Over the next year the subcommittee will closely examine these services across the board and will make decisions to ensure all services are well coordinated with clear outcomes."

        Fact File

• On average, compared with non-Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal people have a life expectancy of 11.5 years lower for men, and 9.7 years for women

• The WA Government provided $117.43million under the four-year COAG Closing the Gap National Partnership Agreement, which expires on June 30, 2013

Health Minister's office - 6552 5300

Mental Health Minister's office - 6552 6900