Recommendation 02

What the Royal Commission said

• This recommendation called for a dedicated Wellbeing Promotion Office and a State Wellbeing Promotion Adviser. The functions of the Wellbeing Promotion Office are to:

1. deliver economic and social benefits of good mental wellbeing across the population
2. use public health principles
3. promote human rights
4. reduce inequities in outcomes.

• Good wellbeing contributes to better relationships, better physical health, greater productivity, longer life expectancy and connected communities.
• The Wellbeing Promotion Office will promote good mental wellbeing in the places where we live, learn, work and play.
• We do this by working to ensure these spaces are safe, inclusive and welcoming for everyone. We lead, activate and work in partnership, striving for all Victorians to have the best possible mental wellbeing.
• The Wellbeing Promotion Office will help shift the focus of the mental health and wellbeing system towards the prevention of mental distress and the promotion of wellbeing. It will improve accountability, coordination and planning of activities by working across government, sectors and communities.

What we've achieved

The Wellbeing Promotion Office was established within the Department of Health in 2022, led by the State Wellbeing Promotion Adviser.

The Office coordinates a statewide approach to wellbeing promotion that focuses on the whole population with the intent of supporting a reduction in mental distress in the future. The focus of this work is to strengthen the system towards prevention action that promotes and delivers good mental health and wellbeing.

• We have developed and launched Victoria’s first Wellbeing Strategy Wellbeing in Victoria: a strategy to promote good mental health and wellbeing 2025-2035 along with the Wellbeing Action Plan for 2025-27. These documents promote good mental health for everyone in Victoria wherever we live, work, learn and play.
• Early implementation will focus on building stronger relationships and leadership across sectors to support wellbeing. It will also develop the skills and confidence of both the workforce and communities so they can deliver wellbeing activities effectively.

What we're doing

• Implementation of the Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2035 is underway through the Wellbeing Action Plan for 2025-27 and will continue to progress the strategic direction for the Wellbeing Promotion Office to develop and coordinate a statewide approach to promoting good mental health and wellbeing