New Co-Located Mental Health and Eating Disorder Services Open in Peel Region
The Kara Maar Community Eating Disorder Service and Peel Community Mental Health Service are now operational at their new Montserrat Drive location in Mandurah, south of Perth. This co-located facility aims to enhance community-based care, but Western Australia continues to face delays in establishing a dedicated residential eating disorder treatment centre as initially pledged by federal authorities.
Federal Funding and Unfulfilled Promises for Residential Clinic
In 2019, former Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt committed $4 million to build a residential eating disorder clinic in WA, intended to reduce recurrent hospital admissions. While other Australian states progressed with similar facilities, WA lagged behind, prompting a federal deadline of mid-2025 for opening a centre at Peel Health Campus. Despite this, the state government has not advanced the residential clinic, instead focusing on the newly opened outpatient services.
Outpatient Services and Government Commitments
The Kara Maar service provides assessment, treatment, and physical health monitoring for individuals aged 16 and over with eating disorders, offering multidisciplinary outpatient care, nutritional support, and collaborative work with patients and families. During a tour of the facility, Health Minister Meredith Hammat reaffirmed the government's dedication to a residential clinic, noting that $5 million in planning funds was allocated in last year's budget, with the Mental Health Commission leading stakeholder consultations.
Co-Location Benefits and Staffing Challenges
The Peel Community Mental Health Clinic has relocated from Peel Health Campus to share the Montserrat Drive premises with Kara Maar, featuring separate entrances for each service. This move is expected to alleviate pressure on hospital services, as WA receives 20 to 25 mental health referrals daily, and has freed up space for additional beds at the hospital. Peel program manager Jan Battley highlighted the facility's capacity to serve about 55 staff, including doctors, nurses, and social workers, but acknowledged ongoing staffing shortages in the Peel area, with some positions remaining unfilled.
Government's Broader Health Infrastructure Plans
WA Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey emphasized the government's commitment to expanding health services across the state, ensuring coordinated and supportive care for residents in Mandurah and the Peel region. He stated that this project is part of a larger initiative to deliver necessary health infrastructure for current and future needs, underscoring the importance of accessible community-based mental health and eating disorder support.
