Project to profile mental health workforce gets underway

Tuesday 22 July 2025

• WAAMH is conducting WA’s first ever community mental health sector workforce survey.
• Survey results will shape future advocacy to help build a sustainable mental health workforce and system.
• The association is seeking expressions of interest for a project reference group, which will guide the development and implementation of the survey.
• View the Expression of Interest for the reference group.
  
  

The Western Australian Association for Mental Health has today launched a vitally important project, to conduct WA’s inaugural community mental health workforce survey.

The survey results will provide a clearer understanding of the numbers and characteristics of those Western Australians who work in the community-based mental health sector.

The statewide survey will also uncover the workforce trends, opportunities and challenges currently facing the sector.

CEO, Taryn Harvey, said this historic project would provide valuable quantitative data that would underpin the association’s future advocacy and complement the development of Australia’s mental health system.

“We know that the workforce is the critical factor in creating a sustainable mental health system than can better meet the needs of Western Australians,” Ms Harvey said.

“The more evidence we have about the workforce and its demographics, challenges, and emerging requirements, the better we can advocate to policymakers.”

Ms Harvey explained that the WA survey results would build upon results from NSW and the ACT that had been captured over the last six years.

“Not only is the survey strategically important for our association and our members, but the data will also contribute to the emerging national profile of Australia’s mental health workforce.”

Management and research consultancy firm, Human Capital Alliance, has been commissioned to develop and conduct the survey as well as collate the results, which will be published in a report in late 2025.

Getting involved in the project

Interested parties are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to join the project reference group, which will guide the development of the survey as well as pilot test and provide feedback on the draft survey.

If you would like to be involved in this important work, please view the Expression of Interest.