Recovery hubs to roll out across WA

The State Government has invested $3.6 million into the establishment of Western Australia's first Recovery College, but South West communities will have to wait at least 12 months to benefit from the new hub.

The college is aimed at providing a holistic and whole-community approach to tackling addiction and mental health issues.

First established in London in 2010, there are now more than 75 colleges across the UK, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Mental Health Minister Roger Cook said WA’s first Recovery College would be progressively rolled out across the State over the next three years, starting with locations in the Perth, Kimberley and Pilbara regions next year.

“The Recovery College will be open to the whole community to come together to learn and share knowledge about mental health, including consumers, carers, families, clinicians and interested community members,” Mr Cook said.

“It has been designed to cater to our vast landscape and to be accessible to all Western Australians through the hub and satellite model.”

The Mental Health Commission has appointed HelpingMinds to lead the project in WA, making it accessible to people in regional areas, using a hub and satellite design.

Although there is no indication of when the South West locations would be rolled out, the Minister confirmed the satellite campuses would operate from multiple locations throughout the region.

“It is anticipated course co-design will commence soon with the first courses available next year in the metropolitan, Kimberley and Pilbara regions, from there the service will expand to other areas including the South West,” Mr Cook said.

“It will complement existing support services by enabling self-directed recovery and learning opportunities in a safe and welcoming place.”