The final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was tabled in a special sitting of the Victorian Parliament on 2 March 2021.
The landmark final report outlines changes to create a future mental health and wellbeing system that provides holistic treatment, care and support for all Victorians.
Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System's Final .
The final report
The Royal Commission's final report includes 65 recommendations in addition to the nine interim report recommendations.
The recommendations set out a 10-year vision for a future mental health system where people can access treatment close to their homes and in their communities.
The Victorian Government has committed to implementing all recommendations.
Importantly, people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress will be central to the design and delivery of the new mental health and wellbeing system.
Recommendations are grouped around four key features of the future mental health and wellbeing system:
- A responsive and integrated system with community at its heart
- A system attuned to promoting inclusion and addressing inequities
- Re-established public confidence through prioritisation and collaboration
- Contemporary and adaptable services.
The interim report
The Royal Commission published an interim report in November 2019. It recommended priority work to address urgent needs and lay the foundations for the future.
The Victorian Government established Mental Health Reform Victoria to deliver the interim recommendations.
Mental Health Reform Victoria projects include new mental health beds, strengthening the mental health workforce and expanding existing services to make them available to more Victorians.
The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System – your questions answered
-
The Royal Commission was established in February 2019 after the Victorian Government recognised the system was failing to support people living with mental illness or psychological distress, families, carers and supporters, as well as those working in the system.
-
Changes to improve Victoria’s mental health system are already underway. The Royal Commission’s Interim Report, released in November 2019, provided the first steps to reforming the mental health system.
The 2020-21 Budget provided $868.8 million in mental health funding, of which over $578 million is for the implementation of Royal Commission recommendations.
Progress includes delivery of new mental health beds, strengthening the mental health workforce and expanding existing services to make them available to more Victorians.
-
The Royal Commission’s Final Report recommended a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission be established to oversee the implementation of the reforms.
The Commission will hold government to account for the performance, quality and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system.
Reviewed 01 February 2024