News

Mental Health Victoria has today released its Submission to the 2025/26 Victorian Budget.

The Budget Submission calls on the Victorian Government to:

• Prioritise investment and clarity on next steps for the system reform – including the rollout of the Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services; the Lived and Living Experience Agency; and enhanced regional governance and service delivery.
• Invest in initiatives to grow and retain the workforce – including a new strategy focused on retention; and embedding the Lived and Living Experience Workforce.
• Demonstrate commitment to human-centred care in the system – including efforts to eliminate health inequity across the state, targeted supports for young people, and establishing the 2,500 supported houses for people experiencing mental ill-health.

Since the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, Victoria has been a noble leader in mental health reform. Mental Health Victoria recognises the significant achievements and milestones in the implementation of the mental health reform worth celebrating, including nation-leading investment of over $6 billion since 2021, the prioritisation and growth of the lived and living experience workforce, and the establishment of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.

However, the recent delays in implementing the recommendations are hindering progress towards the transformed, consumer-led, rights-based mental health and wellbeing system.

“Mental Health Victoria recognises there are fiscal challenges facing this upcoming budget; however, we urge the government to prevent the vital mental health and wellbeing system reform from continued stagnation. This Submission aims to strike the balance between idealism and pragmatism which we consider critical to maintaining momentum.

A crucial element of successful reform is collaboration between consumers, the sector and government. For service providers and policy makers to engage collectively and collaboratively, we need transparency about progress, timeframes, and outcomes. Our Submission makes several recommendations to support this, such as the need for a detailed implementation plan, release of an Outcomes Framework, and timely updates to the sector. We cannot stall progress and expect a better system to emerge. The time for action is now.”

- Acting CEO, Emily Wolter. 

MHV has undertaken extensive engagement with our Associates and our Lived and Living Experience Advisory Group, to develop this Budget Submission. As we push forward, we must continue to engage the sector in the transformation, to ensure that the outcomes we seek are embedded in practice. This requires timely information sharing, as well as access to data regarding the status and progress of the reform.

[READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE]

Mental Health Victoria has today announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Phillipa Thomas, commencing from 18 November 2024.

On Thursday, 12 September, Mental Health Victoria hosted the 'Victorian Sector Advocacy: Funding Arrangements for Psychosocial and Foundational Supports' online forum for our Associates.

Mental Health Victoria was delighted to host the CEO & Board Member Breakfast Event about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 in August.

Mental Health Victoria (MHV) is pleased to announce the appointment of Karenza Louis-Smith as its new Chair. 

The Victorian State Budget, released on Tuesday, revealed that notwithstanding continued investment in the mental health and wellbeing system, substantial reforms recommended by the Royal Commission have been missed.