Chief Officer for Mental Health and Wellbeing's foreword
It is a privilege to present the Chief Officer for Mental Health and Wellbeing annual report for 2023–24. This is the first year an annual report has been required to be prepared under s 261(2) of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System set an ambitious 10-year vision for a transformed mental health and wellbeing system for all Victorians.
The first phase of reform has included establishing new entities, delivering new and expanded services for children, young people and adults, more focus on early intervention, expanding the mental health and wellbeing workforce and embedding lived and living experience voices and leadership throughout the system. These reforms align with the Department of Health’s strategic directions and vision for Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
To make system transformation possible, the Royal Commission recommended replacing the Mental Health Act 2014 with a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act. The new Act, which took effect on 1 September 2023, sets the foundation for a compassionate, therapeutic and human rights-focused system envisioned by the Royal Commission.
The Act legislates a range of objectives to promote good mental health and wellbeing, places people with lived experience – consumers and their families, carers and supporters – at the centre of the mental health and wellbeing system and aims to achieve the highest possible standard of mental health and wellbeing for all Victorians.
The Act’s mental health and wellbeing principles promote and better protect human rights and require mental health and wellbeing service providers to:
- support the dignity and autonomy of people living with mental illness or psychological distress
- ensure people are involved in decisions about their treatment, care and support
- recognise the role of families, carers and supporters
- ensure the service system responds to the diverse needs and preferences of Victorians.
The Act also established new roles in the system including the Chief Officer for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Chief Officer). The Chief Officer has many functions under the Act, including to steward a more inclusive mental health and wellbeing system, promote the mental health and wellbeing principles, and the continuous improvement in the quality and safety of mental health and wellbeing services.
As the inaugural Chief Officer, I am pleased to provide the annual report to the Minister for Mental Health. The report includes a review of how the Chief Officer is performing their functions, the amount appropriated under s 743 of the Act (Mental Health Services Levy) and how this has supported the provision of mental health and wellbeing services.
This report also provides an overview of the services provided by public mental health and wellbeing services in 2023–24 and work to comply with the mental health and wellbeing principles outlined in the Act.
I am very proud of what we have achieved in 2023–24 to progress mental health and wellbeing reform. I can’t thank the mental health and wellbeing workforce and its leaders, our reform partners and my team in the department enough for their work.
Current
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Contact email: DSO.MentalHealthWellbeing@health.vic.gov.au
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- Date published
- 26 Dec 2023
Reviewed 30 January 2025