What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission recommends that the Victorian Government:
- establish a process for assessing the Victorian population's need for mental health and wellbeing services.
- develop and publish a statewide mental health and wellbeing service and capital plan, and eight regional mental health and wellbeing service and capital plans, by the end of 2022; the remainder of the plans to be completed by the end of 2023.
- update the statewide mental health and wellbeing service and capital plan every three years.
- by no later than the end of 2026, empower Regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Boards to update regional mental health and wellbeing service and capital plans every three years.
What are the opportunities?
The Royal Commission found major structural problems across the Victorian mental health service system, including inadequate planning for services. It found that the system has not had consistent, integrated and sophisticated planning and that limited demand forecasting has contributed to fragmented service distribution and funding.
What are we doing?
The Statewide Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Capital Plan 2024-2037 guides and supports government and sector decisions about future mental health and wellbeing services. This includes opportunities to develop and expand new models of care such as hospital in the home, intensive community and supported housing.
It is a first for Victoria and offers a new approach to planning which will drive the transformation of the mental health system in medium to long term.
The new approach to service and capital planning will be ongoing and dynamic with the statewide plan to be updated every five years, enabling timely updates in demand growth estimations.
This transformation will build a more equitable and accessible mental health system in Victoria and deliver world-leading outcomes that Victorians deserve. It has been developed within the broader context of reforms across the mental health and wellbeing system. The plan reflects the Royal Commission’s intent for a transformed mental health and wellbeing system with community-based treatment, care and support at the centre.
It will help guide future government and sector investments to deliver mental health services where they’re needed most, ensuring all Victorians have access to safe and high-quality care, close to home.
It lays the foundation for transparent planning, innovative models of care and long-term sustainability of the system.
Reviewed 30 October 2024