Community-based mental health services help people experiencing significant mental health conditions to access support and care, closer to home. Receiving care in the community allows people to stay connected to their families, carers and supporters.
Strengthening community-based care is a key mental health and wellbeing reform priority. Recommendation 5 of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System called for strengthened community-based mental health services. It recommended organising services around people’s needs by bringing together clinical treatment, wellbeing, peer and other supports and providing care as close to home as possible.
This work will:
- set clear and consistent expectations for community mental health care delivery across Victoria
- include more recovery-focused, peer and wellbeing supports and greater integration of lived experience practice
- make it easier for Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services and non-government organisations (NGOs) to work together, so people receive connected treatment, care and support in the community
- improve understanding of roles and responsibilities across community-based mental health care providers.
This reform priority will be delivered in phases. Over time, strengthening these services will contribute to a more connected and sustainable mental health and wellbeing system that improves outcomes for consumers, families, carers and supporters.
Service framework for Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (AMHWS) lead the delivery of care in the community for people experiencing significant mental health conditions. AMHWS have made significant progress in reforming community-based care, and are key partners in Victoria’s mental health reform.
To support their work, we have developed the Community-based care in Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services: Service Framework.
This framework sets minimum expectations AMHWS must meet when delivering care in the community. These expectations were developed together with service providers, frontline workers and people with lived and living experience.
AMHWS will need to consider how their existing model of care meets the expectations laid out in the framework and make adjustments where necessary.
By creating a shared understanding, the framework strengthens the work of AMHWS to build a stronger, more connected mental health and wellbeing system.
Accompanying the framework are two further pieces of guidance:
- The Supplementary Guidance on Clinical Service Delivery Components provides additional information on key clinical service delivery components.
- Focus areas for reform identifies the initial priority areas for service providers and the department to work together on to improve community-based care.
As our understanding of effective community-based care continues to grow, the focus areas for reform will evolve. This will allow the system to build on the lessons, respond to emerging challenges, and continuously strengthen outcomes for consumers, families, carers and supporters.
Further guidance and support will be provided to help embed the framework and will ensure AMHWS and NGOs are working together more consistently.
Supporting guidance
Opportunities to get involved
We will continue to engage with people with lived and living experience of significant mental health conditions, and the people involved in supporting their care and recovery.
If you’d like more information, please email us via the Mental Health System Design inbox at mhwsystemdesign@health.vic.gov.au.
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