Mental health and community services jobs in Western Australia
Last updated: October 2026. Figures are the latest published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), the WA Mental Health Commission and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) at the time of writing. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Western Australia is the fastest-growing state in the country, and health care and social assistance is already its largest employer. This page brings together the official numbers on mental health, community services and disability work in WA in one place: how many people work in the sector, how fast it is growing, which roles are in shortage, what the work pays, and which qualifications employers ask for. It is written for people weighing up a career move, for school and careers advisers, and for anyone who needs a cited figure for a report.
Key figures at a glance
| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| WA population | 3,096,200, up 64,200 (2.1%) in a year, the fastest growth of any state or territory | ABS, National, state and territory population, March 2026 (released 17 September 2026) |
| People employed in health care and social assistance in WA | 238,200, or 14.4% of all WA jobs, the state’s largest industry | JSA, Industry Profile Western Australia (ABS Labour Force, Detailed, four-quarter average to February 2026) |
| Five-year growth in that industry in WA | +66,000 jobs (+38.3%); +54.4% over ten years | JSA, Industry Profile Western Australia, April 2026 |
| Projected WA employment growth to May 2035 | +227,400 jobs (+13.6%), with health care and social assistance remaining the largest employing industry in every state | JSA, Employment Projections 2025 (May 2025 to May 2035) |
| Western Australians aged 16+ who experienced a mental health condition in the past 12 months | 22.5% (more than one in five) | WA Mental Health Commission, WA Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2026–2031 |
| Active NDIS participants in WA | 70,243, supported by 27,586 active providers | NDIA, WA dashboard, quarter to 30 June 2026 |
| WA Mental Health Commission budget | $1,772.5 million total cost of services, 2026-27 | WA State Budget 2026-27, Budget Paper 2 |
| WA employers reporting difficulty recruiting | 48% of recruiting employers (44% nationally) | JSA, Recruitment Snapshot Western Australia, February 2026 |
A growing state with a growing care workforce
At 31 March 2026 Western Australia’s estimated resident population was 3,096,200. It grew by 64,200 people, or 2.1%, over the preceding twelve months, which the ABS describes as the fastest growth of any state or territory. Net overseas migration added 41,531 people and net interstate migration a further 10,314. More people means more demand for GPs, counsellors, support workers, youth services, disability support and aged care, and it is the single biggest reason the sector keeps hiring.
Health care and social assistance is already the largest industry in WA by a wide margin. Jobs and Skills Australia’s WA industry profile puts employment at 238,200 people, 14.4% of the state’s 1,656,300 workers. Over five years the industry added 66,000 jobs, growth of 38.3%, and over ten years it grew 54.4%. The workforce is 78% female, 54% work full-time, the median age is 42 and roughly 86% of jobs are in Greater Perth. Employment dipped 1.6% in the single year to February 2026, which is normal noise in survey data against a five-year trend that is strongly upward.
Looking forward, JSA projects total WA employment to grow by 227,400 jobs (13.6%) in the ten years to May 2035, and expects health care and social assistance to remain the largest employing industry in every state and territory, driven by population growth in older age groups. Nationally the industry is projected to have the strongest growth of any sector over the next five and ten years.
Why demand for mental health and community services workers keeps rising
The WA Mental Health Commission’s Strategy 2026–2031 sets out the need plainly. More than one in five Western Australians aged 16 and over (22.5%) reported experiencing a mental health condition in the previous twelve months, and 18.3% reported high or very high psychological distress. Around one in nine (11.8%) reported suicidal thoughts in the previous year. In 2023, 417 people in WA died by suicide, a rate of 14.3 per 100,000, and the rate among Aboriginal people was 38.1 per 100,000.
Alcohol and other drug use adds a second layer of demand. The same strategy reports that 11.8% of Western Australians used illicit drugs in the past twelve months, up from 10.5% in 2022, rising to 32.8% among 15 to 24 year olds, and that 35.5% drink at levels that put them at risk. These are the people that alcohol and other drugs workers, counsellors, youth workers and community services staff support every day.
The State Government has funded the response accordingly. The Mental Health Commission’s total cost of services is budgeted at $1,772.5 million for 2026-27, up from an estimated $1,643.2 million in 2025-26, across prevention, hospital bed-based, community bed-based, community treatment and community support services. Most of the community services are delivered by non-government organisations, which is where many entry-level and mid-career roles sit.
Disability is the third driver. At 30 June 2026 the NDIS had 70,243 active participants in WA, with 1,684 new participants entering in the June quarter alone, and 27,586 active providers delivering supports. Total annualised plan budgets in WA were $6,336 million. Each of those participants needs support coordinators, support workers, allied health assistants and plan managers.
Which roles are in shortage
Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates 29% of assessed occupations as in national shortage, down from 33% in 2024, but notes that shortages persist in health and care occupations. For WA, the roles most relevant to community services students were rated as follows.
| Occupation (ANZSCO) | National rating 2025 | WA rating 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse, Mental Health (254422) | Shortage | Shortage |
| Rehabilitation Counsellor (272114) | Shortage | Shortage |
| Community Worker (411711) | No shortage | Shortage |
| Youth Worker (411716) | No shortage | Shortage |
| Residential Care Officer (411715) | No shortage | Shortage |
| Program or Project Administrator (511112) | No shortage | Shortage |
| Drug and Alcohol Counsellor (272112) | No shortage | No shortage |
| Family Support Worker (411713) | No shortage | No shortage |
| Massage Therapist (411611) | No shortage | No shortage |
The pattern is worth noting: several roles that are adequately supplied nationally are in shortage in WA specifically, which reflects the state’s faster population growth and its distance from the eastern-states labour pool. The WA Government’s own State Priority Occupation List also rates occupations for the state; it is published as an interactive dashboard at wa.gov.au.
Recruitment conditions back this up. JSA’s WA recruitment snapshot for February 2026 counted 26,924 online job advertisements in the state, up 2.5% on a year earlier, and found that 48% of WA employers who recruited had difficulty filling roles, against 44% nationally.
How many people do these jobs, and what they earn
Jobs and Skills Australia publishes national profiles for each occupation group. The table below shows the groups that cover most mental health and community services roles. Earnings are median weekly full-time earnings before tax from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and will vary with award level, employer, hours and location.
| Occupation group | Employed in Australia | Annual employment growth | Median full-time weekly earnings | Typical profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welfare Support Workers (4117), including community workers, youth workers, family support workers and residential care officers | 94,500 | +3,300 a year | $1,844 | 71% female, median age 39; 25.8% hold a bachelor degree, 24.2% a diploma or advanced diploma, 20.8% a Certificate III or IV |
| Counsellors (2721), including drug and alcohol, rehabilitation, family and student counsellors | 40,100 | +2,800 a year | $2,154 | 79% female, median age 44; 38.7% hold a postgraduate qualification, 34.2% a bachelor degree, 13.2% a diploma or advanced diploma |
| Registered Nurses (2544), of whom about 18,200 work in mental health | 345,200 | +8,700 a year | $2,156 | Mental health nurses: 72% female, median age 44 |
| Massage Therapists (4116) | 19,500 | +100 a year | Not published (small sample) | 79% female, median age 49; 73% work part-time; 50.1% hold a diploma or advanced diploma |
| Contract, Program and Project Administrators (5111), the group that includes NDIS and community program coordinators | 170,500 | +11,800 a year | $2,033 | 57% female, median age 43 |
Within those groups, the 2021 Census counted 28,400 community workers, 16,200 youth workers, 4,100 family support workers and 2,500 drug and alcohol counsellors nationally. Welfare support work is the entry point for most people: a Certificate IV or diploma is the most common qualification, and bachelor degrees are held by only about one in four workers.
Most non-government community services employers in WA pay under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (the SCHADS Award). Pay points are set by classification level. In the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the full-time hourly rates for social and community services employees are $36.22 to $39.53 at Level 2 (typical for a Certificate III or IV support role), $40.49 to $43.42 at Level 3, $46.70 to $50.25 at Level 4 and $53.43 to $55.85 at Level 5 (typical for a qualified counsellor or case manager with a diploma or degree and experience). Penalty rates, allowances and salary packaging available to many not-for-profit employees come on top of the base rate.
Roles, qualifications and where to start
The sector is unusual in that it is possible to start work with a Certificate III or IV, keep working while studying, and progress to a diploma and then a degree if you choose. The table maps common WA job titles to the qualification employers most often ask for, with links to the matching nationally recognised course.
| Job title you will see advertised | Qualification employers usually ask for |
|---|---|
| Support worker, disability support worker, community support worker | CHC32015 Certificate III in Community Services |
| Mental health support worker, peer worker, outreach worker | CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health |
| Alcohol and other drugs worker, AOD support worker | CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs or CHC53215 Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs |
| Community services worker, family support worker, housing worker | CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services |
| Case manager, support coordinator, program coordinator | CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) |
| Counsellor (community, AOD, youth, family) | CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling |
| Mental health worker, mental health recovery worker, team leader | CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health |
| Youth worker, youth justice worker, residential youth worker | CHC50425 Diploma of Youth Work |
| Remedial massage therapist | HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage |
Registered nursing, psychology and social work roles require a university degree. Several of the diplomas above carry credit towards related degrees at WA and interstate universities; see our university pathways page for current arrangements.
Many of these qualifications are on the WA Government’s 2026 Fee Free or Lower Fees, Local Skills lists for eligible WA residents. We explain how those lists work, who is eligible and what the fee caps are on our page Fee-free and subsidised training in WA (2026).
Frequently asked questions
Is community services a good career choice in WA right now?
By the official numbers, yes. It is the largest industry in the state, it grew 38% in five years, several of its occupations are rated in shortage in WA, and the state’s population is growing faster than any other. The trade-off is that pay in entry-level roles is moderate and the work can be emotionally demanding, which is why employers value people with recognised training and good self-care habits.
Do I need a degree to work in mental health?
Not for most support, outreach, peer and community roles. About three quarters of welfare support workers do not hold a bachelor degree; a Certificate IV in Mental Health or a Diploma of Mental Health is the standard qualification. Clinical roles such as psychologist, mental health nurse or accredited mental health social worker do require a degree and registration.
What does a support worker earn in WA?
Under the SCHADS Award most support workers are classified at Level 2 or 3, which from 1 July 2026 pays $36.22 to $43.42 an hour before penalties and allowances, with case managers and counsellors at Level 4 or 5 earning more. Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings of $1,844 a week for welfare support workers and $2,154 for counsellors nationally.
Where are the jobs?
About 86% of WA health and community services jobs are in Greater Perth, but regional WA has proportionally more vacancies and more shortage ratings, and many regional roles come with housing or relocation support.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, National, state and territory population, March 2026, released 17 September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/latest-release
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Industry Profile: Western Australia, April 2026 (ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, four-quarter average to February 2026). jobsandskills.gov.au
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035, states and territories and summary report, December 2025. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation and Industry Profiles: Welfare Support Workers (4117), Counsellors (2721), Registered Nurses (2544), Massage Therapists (4116), Contract, Program and Project Administrators (5111); ABS Labour Force Survey 2025 four-quarter average and ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025 Occupation Shortage List, October 2025. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment Snapshot: Western Australia, February 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au
- Western Australian Mental Health Commission, Western Australian Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2026–2031. mhc.wa.gov.au
- Government of Western Australia, 2026-27 State Budget, Budget Paper No. 2, Part 5: Mental Health Commission. ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
- National Disability Insurance Agency, Western Australia dashboard, 30 June 2026 (Quarterly Report Q4 2025-26). ndis.gov.au/about-us/publications/quarterly-reports
- Fair Work Commission, Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100), pay guide published 24 June 2026, rates from 1 July 2026. calculate.fairwork.gov.au/payguides/pact/MA000100/20260701
- Government of Western Australia, State Priority Occupation List. wa.gov.au/service/education-and-training/vocational-education/state-priority-occupation-list
This page is general information compiled from public sources and is updated periodically. It is not careers, financial or legal advice. If you are experiencing distress, Lifeline is available 24 hours on 13 11 14.
