Good mental health is an essential component of wellbeing and is important for children from infancy and early childhood through to adolescence and young adulthood.

The Commissioner takes a broad view of mental health – from the development of mentally healthy children and young people through to the provision of services and programs for children and young people who are unwell.

Over the past 11 years, the Commissioner has worked to monitor and advocate on the mental health needs of children and young people in WA. Most significantly, this work has included the 2011 Inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia and the 2015 follow up Our Children Can’t Wait Report: Review of the implementation of the Inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia.

In 2020, the Commissioner published a progress update which indicated that the gaps in the WA mental health system remain.

Further up to date information is available on the Commissioner's Indicators of Wellbeing data resource.

Read the Commissioner's policy statement on health and mental health here.

Reports

Issues papers

Policy briefs

Submissions

More information

Events

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Indicators of Wellbeing

The Commissioner has developed the Indicators of Wellbeing, an evidence-based model to monitor and report on the wellbeing of WA children and young people.

Thinkers in Residence

The Thinker in Residence program invites leading researchers and practitioners to Perth to raise awareness about important issues that impact the wellbeing of WA’s youngest citizens.

Child protection

The Commissioner monitors developments in child protection legislation, policies and practices, and advocates to improve the outcomes for children in the out of home care system.