Recommendation 11

What the Royal Commission said

The Royal Commission recommends that the Victorian Government:

1. review, reform and implement new models of multidisciplinary care for bed-based services that are delivered in a range of settings, including in a person's home and in fit-for-purpose community and hospital environments.
2. deliver a broad range of bed-based services, including as a matter of immediate priority:
   a. expanding Hospital in the Home (HiTH) services as an alternative to acute hospital-based treatment, care and support where appropriate;
   b. investing in a wide range of time-limited and flexible residential respite services informed by local priorities, including establishing a peer-led residential respite service at a demonstration site; and
   c. developing new bed-based rehabilitation services (refer to Recommendation 12).
3. build on the Interim Report's Recommendation 2 about the need for the expansion of acute mental health services and deliver at least 100 additional beds in settings that reflect optimal allocation and distribution across Victoria.
4. periodically review the allocation of new beds as part of the statewide and regional planning processes recommended by the Royal Commission (refer to Recommendation 47) and audit the outcomes.

What we’ve achieved

Bed expansion

Delivery of an additional 100 mental health beds across the State is underway including:

• 10 HitH Beds established at Western Health in 2025-26 and a further 10 HiTH beds to be established at Monash Health as part of the 2026-27 State Budget
• an additional 16 mental health beds built as part of the New Footscray Hospital and Frankston Hospital redevelopment
• 25 mental health beds to be delivered at Melton Hospital
• planning underway for new beds at Shepparton.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Capital Plan

• Victoria released its first Statewide Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Capital Plan in 2024.
• The plan uses evidence and data to help guide future mental health services, including acute mental health care. It looks at projected demand based on population needs, growth, and changing demographics, to help ensure services are planned in the right places and for the future.

What we’re doing

• The Victorian Government is continuing to deliver new services, including new acute inpatient mental health beds.
• For more information about mental health infrastructure projects visit the Victorian Health Building Authority website.