The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended the establishment of up to 60 Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services across Victoria by the end of 2026.
The new service stream, to be known as Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals, will make it easier for people to get supports earlier, in the community, and closer to their families, carers and supporters.
The new services provide treatment, care and support for people who are experiencing mental health concerns, including people experiencing mental health and substance use concerns at the same time.
They will be free and easy to access with no referral required and delivered on a philosophy of ‘how can we help?’ and a ‘no wrong door’ approach.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals are being progressively established across the state. The locations for the procurement of the next set of Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals will be:
- Dandenong
- Shepparton
- Melton
- Mildura
- Lilydale
- Bendigo and Echuca
- Orbost and Bairnsdale
It is anticipated that the procurement process will open in early February 2023.
The Department of Health has developed Fact Sheets to explain how the new service stream will work with other mental health and wellbeing services. These are available on the Department of Health website.
A Fact Sheet and further information for consumers, carers, families and supporters is available on the Better Health Channel website.