Department of Health

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service – Board appointments

18/07/24

Under the Health Services Act, the Governor in Council established the Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) on 2 July 2024.

This world-first service will further the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System’s proposal that Victoria's future mental health and wellbeing system should have a specific youth mental health and wellbeing service stream for young people aged 12-25 and ensure that governance of mental health services in the north-west be simplified and streamlined.

The new service will help young people in the north-west and west of metropolitan Melbourne seamlessly transition through the various stages of their care and ensure they're getting the best support possible. The PYMHWS will take over the delivery of the Orygen Specialist Program from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and continue to deliver early intervention to young people living with severe and complex mental illness.

On 2 July 2024, the establishment of the PYMHWS was formalised with board members approved by the Governor in Council. A dedicated board will enable a focus on governance of youth mental health and wellbeing services, partnership with young people with lived and living experience, maintain alignment to Victoria's mental health and wellbeing reform agenda, embed diversity and inclusion in practice and models of care, and integrate a human rights-based approach to care.

The inaugural board will be chaired by Ms Penny Armytage, who is currently also the Chair of Forensicare. Penny brings a wealth of experience and as Chair of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System, is deeply committed to reforming the system to improve the lives of Victorians.

The PYMHWS Board of Directors membership is as follows:

  • Ms Penny Armytage AM (Chair)
  • Ms Nadia Baillie
  • Associate Professor Ravi Bhat AM
  • Dr Margaret Grigg AM
  • Ms Jennifer Lang
  • Mr Elvis Martin
  • Professor Patrick McGorry AO
  • Ms Vicki Sutton.

For more information on the PYMHWS, visit Dedicated Youth Mental Health Service To Be Established | Premier of VictoriaExternal Link

Reviewed 19 July 2024

Health.vic

Was this page helpful?