Response to the inquiry into the Esther Foundation and unregulated private health facilities

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is pleased to have been invited by the Western Australian Government to provide a response to the Inquiry into the Esther Foundation. The terms of reference included consultation about options for the regulation and governance of private alcohol and other drug (AOD) services in the context of the National Quality Framework for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services (NQF).

The APS commended the establishment of this inquiry as an avenue for former Esther House residents to be heard, as well as providing an opportunity for the Government to seek guidance about the regulatory and legislative reforms needed to ensure all AOD service providers in Western Australia deliver treatments that are safe and of high quality as per the NQF.

The APS recommended the following to ensure that the intent of the NQF is realised:

• Commonwealth and State Government collaboration to achieve national consistency in the regulation of AOD services,
• Consideration be given to the financial and other resources required for AOD services to adhere to the relevant NQF standards and the impacts this may have on an already chronically underfunded area,
• Inclusion of the regulated psychological workforce, which has expertise psychological safety, in AOD services governance structures, and
• Governments implementing policies and initiatives that grow the psychology workforce to ensure a registered psychologist is available as part of all AOD services teams.

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