Mental Health Victoria (MHV) has announced that Karenza Louis-Smith has resigned from the MHV Board of Directors, bringing to a close more than six years of service to the organisation and to Victoria’s mental health sector.

Mental Health Victoria's summary captures every mental health, AOD and suicide prevention commitment across the Victorian (~$349.9m over four years) and Federal ($283.2m) Budgets. While welcoming the investment, MHV finds reform incomplete and calls on governments to address workforce shortages, finish stalled initiatives, and fund psychosocial supports.

Mental Health Victoria responds to the 2026–27 Federal Budget, warning that bare-minimum mental health investment continues existing programs while delaying commitments for those most in need. MHV welcomes Foundational Supports and Thriving Kids provisioning but says ambiguity persists for the 130,000 Victorians with unmet psychosocial need outside the NDIS.

Mental Health Victoria responds to the 2026–27 State Budget, welcoming worthy investments — including 40 new forensic beds at Thomas Embling and Hospital in the Home expansion — but warning that mid-reform, the budget ignores systemic pressure. MHV calls on the Victorian Government to work with the sector and reset its approach.

Mental Health Victoria has appointed Zoe Daniel as Director and its first Independent Board Chair, succeeding Karenza Louis-Smith. A respected journalist, author and former federal MP for Goldstein, Zoe brings nearly 30 years as an ABC foreign correspondent and a parliamentary record championing healthcare, mental health and eating disorder services.

Mental Health Victoria has warned that the 2025 State Budget fails to deliver the investment needed to keep the state's mental health reform on track four years after the landmark Royal Commission. MHV is pleased to see some continued investment in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals, workforce, and the continuation of existing community and integrated care programs under threat of lapsing in a few weeks. However, this budget fails to meet the Government's promise of a reformed system. 

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.

Mental Health Victoria has announced the appointment of Phillipa Thomas as Chief Executive Officer, commencing 18 November 2024. A dynamic senior executive with deep mental health sector knowledge, Phillipa joins from the Department of Health's Mental Health and Wellbeing Division, bringing extensive experience in system and legislative reform, policy, and health system leadership.

Mental Health Victoria has appointed Karenza Louis-Smith as its new Chair, succeeding Damian Ferrie, who retired after a seven-year tenure. A current MHV Director and CEO of ermha365, Karenza brings over 25 years of leadership in for-purpose organisations across Australia and the UK, alongside lived experience as a mental health consumer.