Mental Health Services - employee statistics (QON 1404)

Date: 
1 December 2009

Hon Alison Xamon to the Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health

(1) Could the Minister please provide details of the number of mental health public employees (in FTE equivalents), by region and for the years, —

(a) 2007-08;

(b) 2008-09; and

(c) and as projected for 2009-10?

(2) For each of the years in (1), how many of these FTE were, —

(a) psychologists;

(b) psychiatrists;

(c) social workers; and

(d) mental health nurses?

Hon HELEN MORTON replied:
(1) Number of Mental Health Employees (FTE) by Mental Health Division and Area Health Services:

Mental Health Employees (FTE)
by Mental Health Division and
Area Health Services
FTE – Financial
Year Average
2007/08
FTE – Financial
Year Average
2008/09
FTE - Financial
Year Average
2009/10
(as at Oct 2009)
Mental Health Division
42.4
42.7
42.6
Child and Adolescent Health Service 
88.8 106.5 110.2
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
1453.9 3 1498. 1501.3
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
1072.0 1114.9 1141.5
WA Country Health Service  
297.0 325.1 329.8
GRAND TOTAL
2954.1 3087.4 3125.4

(Note: Totals may not add exactly to the total due to rounding up).

(2) (a)-(d) FTE for Mental Health Occupations by Mental Health Division and Area Health Services:

Mental Health Occupations
by Mental Health Division and
Area Health Services


FTE – Financial
Year Average
2007/08
FTE – Financial
Year Average
2008/09
FTE – Financial
Year Average
2009/10
(as at Oct 2009)
Mental Health Division      
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Social Workers
Nurses
0.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Child and Adolescent Health Service      
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Social Workers
Nurses
17.2
4.9
2.2
30.2
19.2
5.5
3.7
33.8
19.1
5.7
4.7
36.5
North Metropolitan Area Health Service      
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Social Workers
Nurses
75.3
44.1
78.6
656.9
75.0
47.0
78.1
669.0
77.2
51.8
80.7
682.0
South Metropolitan Area Health Service      
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Social Workers
Nurses
48.8
27.7
67.8
544.4
51.5
26.9
62.1
566.2
47.7
31.3
61.1
588.1
WA Country Health Service      
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Social Workers
Nurses
6.2
12.9
29.2
115.8
8.6
15.4
31.3
130.5
5.5
13.4
29.4
134.5

NOTES:
• The average FTE for each financial year has been calculated using the month to date (MTD) FTE for each month in the financial years 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10.
• FTE figures provided are based on Actual (Paid) FTE.
• No FTE projections are available beyond October 2009.
• FTE includes Department of Health staff and agency.
• Funding hierarchy endorsed by Mental Health Division and based on Cost Centre Levels in the HR Data Warehouse.
• The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist has been excluded.
• Mental Health occupations have been defined by job title and account code.
• FTE for each of the occupations is the Financial Year Average for each of the nominated Financial Years.
• Psychologists include Clinical Psychologists and Psychologists as defined by job title.
• Psychiatrists include Sessional Psychiatrists, Paediatric Psychiatrists and Psychiatrists as defined by job title.
• Social Workers are defined by job title.
• Nurses include Clinical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and Enrolled Mental Health Nurses working in Mental Health and exclude Registered Dental Nurses, Dental Clinic Assistants and Agency Nurses.
• Data Source: HR Data Warehouse.
• Data extracted on 12 November 2009.