Secondary family support services
706. Hon Anthony Spagnolo to the Minister for Community Services:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Michelle Boylan, although I cannot promise to ask it as eloquently as she would have done it.
I refer to the Department of Communities' redesign and commissioning of secondary family support services across Western Australia, specifically services to prevent children and young people from being in need of care and protection.
(1) How many service providers are currently funded under this program?
(2) What is the annual funding allocation?
(3) Why have the outcomes of the 2023 review of services receiving this funding not been released, and when will they be?
Hon Samantha Rowe replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for Community Services.
(1) Secondary family support services are to provide families and children with a range of support services and do not require a child protection concern for referral. Eleven service providers are contracted to deliver secondary family support services, which include support to families and children through a range of services such as counselling, case management, information, parenting programs and other supports.
(2) The total funding for secondary family support services in the 2025–26 financial year is $4,185,076.39.
(3) As the review is informing a current process, this information will not be publicly released at this stage.
