Wednesday, 21 September 2022

 Ms SULEYMAN (St Albans) (19:24): (6547) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Mental Health, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in visiting the construction sites of the new mental health beds expansion program at Sunshine Hospital in my electorate. We know of the incredible contribution of the Andrews Labor government in making health and mental health across Victoria but in particular in my electorate an absolute priority. When it comes to delivering for health in St Albans, we certainly have done that. The newly opened women’s prevention and recovery care centre, where I joined the Minister Mental for Health recently—the $8.4 million facility—delivers around-the-clock care and support for those who need it most. And of course there is the new Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital. We have seen just recently the new multilevel emergency department (ED) built at Sunshine Hospital.

There is no doubt that St Albans has become a priority and a centre for health and wellbeing. Not only do we have the Sunshine Hospital but also the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, a new ED, mental health beds and also, as I just spoke about, the new women’s prevention and recovery care centre. But also there is this confidence in the local community, and we are now seeing a new private hospital being built across from Sunshine Hospital. They will work hand in hand in providing health and support services when needed most in my community. So there really is, as I call it, a triangle in St Albans of health and wellbeing, a priority centre that delivers and provides vital care, not only for St Albans but also for the people of the west.

When it comes to mental health bed expansions, we will see over 52 acute mental health beds delivered at the site of Sunshine Hospital. This will also provide some way of easing the pressure at Sunshine Hospital’s emergency department. As I said, not only are these projects providing vital jobs but also, as we know, Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital is the home of the first neonatal intensive care unit in the west, and it will continue to deliver the health needs for the west. I look forward to joining the minister in seeing firsthand the progress of the new mental health hub in St Albans.

I also take this opportunity to wish everybody the very best during the next couple of weeks. Thank you to you, Speaker, to the clerks for their support and guidance and to all the team in Parliament—thank you so much.