Mental health and wellbeing hub, South Yarra
Mr HIBBINS (Prahran) (12:49): I recently attended the opening of the Mental Health Foundation Australia’s new integrated wellness hub, a comprehensive, integrated mental health service for young people, adults, carers and families in South Yarra. It offers free or cost-effective mental health services primarily targeted at young people but also with a focus on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. It really does answer that service gap for young people and the cohort of people who have complex needs that are too severe to be sorted through primary care but not severe enough to be admitted to hospitals. It also facilitates linkages between a broad range of community services such as accommodation and legal services. The importance of such a facility cannot be overestimated or overstated, particularly as so many people recover and heal from the pandemic. The model of this hub has been strongly influenced by the findings of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and envisages a real transformation of mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support placed within community-based services. Yet, extraordinarily, this hub did not attract any state or federal government funding. It was made possible by private donations. I urge the state government to financially support the incredible work that is being done at the hub in providing mental health support for Victorians and realising the vision of the royal commission.