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What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission called for a new approach to regional governance and commissioning. This is part of its vision for the new mental health and wellbeing system.
This new approach has recommended:
- The establishment of eight Interim Regional Bodies to provide advice to the Department of Health about mental health and wellbeing needs and opportunities within their regions.
The Interim Regional Bodies included people with lived and living experience. At least one consumer and one carer were members of each Interim Regional Body.
What have we achieved?
The Interim Regional Bodies (IRBs) were created to bring regional insight into a period of major mental health system reform. Their final reports, delivered in late 2024, paint a clear picture of the challenges communities face and what is needed to strengthen mental health and wellbeing across Victoria.
Their findings closely mirror the Victorian Government’s reform priorities and will guide the next phase of regional planning. For example, across the state, the IRBs heard calls for earlier support, stronger prevention and better access to local, community-based care. This aligns with the government’s investment in early intervention initiatives like the Distress Support Service, the Wellbeing Strategy 2025 to 2035, Social Inclusion Action Groups and the continued rollout of Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals, which are delivering free support closer to home.
The government acknowledges the contribution of all IRB members and the communities who participated. Their work provides enduring insight that will continue to shape how services respond to local needs as the system evolves.
What are we doing?
On 1 July 2025, Victoria’s Local Health Service Networks were established to support collaborative, region-based care, as close to home as possible. Each Network will develop a Regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Collaboration Plan in 2026 to improve access to services and strengthen transitions between primary, community and acute care. These plans will be shaped by IRB findings and ongoing engagement with local communities and sector partners.
While Networks are being implemented, work to establish Regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Boards has been paused to ensure future planning reflects this new structure. Networks and any collaboration models developed under the Collaboration Plans are not intended to replace Regional Boards or fully acquit the Royal Commission’s regional governance reforms.
Read more on our Mental Health and Wellbeing Interim Regional Bodies page.
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