Thursday, 16 September 2021
Members statements
Mental health funding
Mental health funding
• During these times of global health challenges, there is considerable stress on Victorians, which in many instances has impacted and exacerbated their mental health and wellbeing.
• We can be proud of the Andrews government’s unprecedented funding and support provided towards the improvement of mental health service delivery for those Victorians who need it most.
• Our government has urgently responded to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System with a $492 million investment to deliver 144 new acute public mental health beds.
• Recently, I was pleased to host a roundtable discussion together with my colleagues, the member for Oakleigh and Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health along with the member for Thomastown, which involved more than 50 critical stakeholders from the sector including Headspace, the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and Suicide Prevention Australia.
• The roundtable discussion provided valuable expert feedback regarding the incidence of mental health in our community and the response to the royal commission’s recommendations. This feedback, along with the feedback from the wider community across our state, will continue to inform our work as a government.
• I wish to extend my thanks to all who participated, as well as to thank every mental health worker and support person across Mill Park and Victoria who are on the front lines, working towards the wellbeing of our community. We know mental health issues do not discriminate and can affect us all, which is why it is important that we continue to rally together to address this important issue.