What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission recommended that the Victorian Government create an independent organisation called the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
This Commission would:
- hold the government accountable for how well the mental health and wellbeing system works, including its quality and safety
- support people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress, as well as families, carers, and supporters, to help improve the system
- track the government’s progress in putting the Royal Commission’s recommendations into action
- work to reduce stigma around mental health
The Commission should:
- be led by a Chair Commissioner, supported by a small group of Commissioners appointed by the Governor-in-Council
- include at least one Commissioner with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress
- include at least one Commissioner with lived experience as a family member or carer
The Commission should also have the power to:
- collect data and information about mental health services, system performance, and outcomes from government agencies
- share and work with data alongside the Department of Health and other organisations, such as the Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Safer Care Victoria
- start its own investigations into issues related to mental health and wellbeing
- receive and investigate complaints about mental health services
- make recommendations to the Premier, ministers, and leaders of public sector organisations
- publish reports on how well the mental health and wellbeing system is performing, including its quality and safety
What we’ve achieved
- The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission was formally established as an independent authority on 1 September 2023 under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
- The Commission strengthens the leadership of people with lived experience and plays an important role in improving Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system. Its key functions include:
- Monitoring and publicly reporting on the performance, quality, and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system
- Looking into complaints, including running resolution processes and investigations
- Conducting inquiries into issues that affect mental health and wellbeing services
- The Commission helps promote transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the system.
- We’ve also recently changed how the Commission is structured so leadership and decision-making are simpler. This helps the Commission respond more quickly and work more effectively.
- This includes the introduction of a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner model. This makes governance easier to manage while keeping the Commission independent. It also provides clearer direction, improves accountability, and avoids duplicated work.
Updated