Thursday, 26 May 2022

Eastern Victoria Region

Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:41): (1810) My constituency question is for the Minister for Mental Health. Some months ago I was contacted by a constituent who lives in Moe. Her son had spent a couple of nights in the adult ward, Flynn unit, of Latrobe Regional Hospital. When he was released, he was told to contact the child youth mental health and wellbeing services in the area, which his parents did. When his mother rang to make a booking, the response was, very apologetically, ‘You can get your next available booking in 2025’—for a 17-year-old child. In no way am I or the mother or the son making serious demands on the person answering the phone. But the minister must be able to explain why a young man of 17 cannot have access to these mental health services any earlier than 2025.