Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Ministers statements: Whittlesea mental health and wellbeing local

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:23): I rise to update the house on the walk-in mental health supports that are now available in Whittlesea. On Friday I joined the member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio and the member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage to visit the service’s permanent location in South Morang. The Whittlesea service is one of 15 mental health and wellbeing locals operating across the state, supporting people experiencing mental illness or psychological distress, including those with co-‍occurring substance abuse or addiction concerns, providing treatment and care in their community and closer to their support networks.

Since October 2022 provider Neami, alongside partners the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Drummond Street Services and Uniting Vic.Tas, has delivered telehealth services for people in Whittlesea and the surrounding community. But I am pleased to inform the house that residents can now access the mental health and wellbeing local at 1 Danaher Drive, South Morang, seven days a week or can call to arrange a face-to-face or telehealth appointment at no cost. We are delivering mental health and wellbeing local services across the state, ensuring all Victorians will have free, easy-to-access mental health care and support close to home whenever they need it, without making them jump through hoops like a GP referral or meeting eligibility criteria.

Local mental health and wellbeing services are just one way we are transforming our mental health system, making it easier for more people to seek out responsive and compassionate support, because that is what every Victorian deserves. Thank you to the team at the Whittlesea local for showing us around on Friday and for all the amazing work that they are doing throughout that community.