Recommendation 09

What the Royal Commission said

The Royal Commission recommended a range of new consumer-led ‘safe spaces' for people in distress or crisis.

People can stay safe and access support at these safe spaces. These new services will be developed in partnership with non-government organisations, where appropriate.

The new agency led by people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress will collaborate in this work.

The Victorian Government will work with its partners to establish:

• one drop-in or crisis respite facility for adults and older Victorians per region, and
• four safe spaces across the state. These will be a mix of drop-in spaces and crisis response services, co-designed with and for young people.

This recommendation includes the set up a safe place where people in crisis can go to stabilise. This will be developed in consultation with people with lived experience. It will be led by a public health service or public hospital in partnership with a non-government organisation that delivers wellbeing supports.

What we've achieved

• We developed a plan introducing a range of improvements for pathways and support for people experiencing a mental health crisis and their families and supporters. This plan was developed in close collaboration with people with lived and living experience, Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police, and Triple Zero Victoria.
• Data‑sharing arrangements with Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police, and Triple Zero Victoria have been set up to allow for better understanding of how often mental health crises occur and how emergency services respond. The data provides a clear starting point to track progress and measure improvements over time.
• We are working closely with partner agencies to continue to improve how mental health crises are responded to across Victoria. This work supports the delivery of Royal Commission Recommendation 8, recommendation 9 and recommendation 10.
• People with lived and living experience, First Nations communities, community organisations, and service providers have all contributed to this work. Their input is helping ensure these new services are well connected, meet community needs, and provide clear, practical advice to government.

What we're doing

• We will work through a phased implementation approach to offer a continuum of care for those experiencing mental health crisis, so that there is always “someone to talk to, someone to respond and somewhere to go” when they are most in need.
• This includes designing Safe Spaces where people can get help during times of distress, as an alternative to going to an emergency department.
• The next phase of crisis reforms is focusedon trialling an enhanced crisis outreach model at two Melbourne locations and continuing the existing Telehealth Prehospital Response of Mental Health and Paramedic Team (TelePROMPT). The service connects paramedics with mental health clinicians in real time, to better support people experiencing a mental health crisis
• We are continuing an agreed, phased approach to rolling out new and enhanced services linked to Royal Commission Recommendation 8, recommendation 9 and recommendation 10.