Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Parkville youth prevention and recovery care centre

Ms WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (10:02): Young people in the inner north now have better access to mental health support thanks to the brand new, 20-bed youth prevention and recovery care centre in Parkville opened yesterday with the Premier and Minister for Mental Health. This will be a special place for young people, and I am delighted to have followed its construction closely from the first sod turn in November 2020 up until yesterday’s celebration. This world-class facility will provide around-the-clock clinical care for at-risk young people between the ages of 16 and 25. It is one of five new facilities around the state which are safe spaces for youths in crisis to be adequately cared for in their recovery.

As part of the tour we also announced the commencement of the HOPE and Hospital in the Home services. HOPE stands for ‘hospital outreach post-suicidal engagement’, and this service will do incredible work supporting individuals and their support networks following a suicide attempt. It is an essential service, and I am proud to be part of an Andrews Labor government that has committed to delivering every single one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. We are rebuilding our mental health system from the ground up to ensure that every Victorian can receive the support and care they most richly deserve. It is the biggest social reform in our state’s history, and only a Labor government is able to deliver it. Can I thank the staff from that centre, who were so gracious and generous in hosting our tour yesterday, in particular Thomas—you are a bit of a legend, and I wish you all the best.