Thursday, 6 February 2025

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:14): I rise to update the house today on the Allan Labor government’s record on growing Victoria’s mental health workforce. The mental health workforce is the backbone of our mental health system and the central pillar of our transformation of Victoria’s mental health system. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge these highly skilled and dedicated workers for their tireless support of Victorians when they need it the most. Since 2021 the Allan Labor government has invested more than $600 million to stabilise, grow, support and retain Victoria’s mental health professionals. Guided by our mental health workforce strategy, this represents the largest dedicated investment in the mental health workforce in our history. And it is working. Despite health workforce shortages around the globe, our government’s action has resulted in a 25 per cent increase in the workforce between 2021 and 2024.

That is more mental health nurses, more allied health professionals, more lived-experience workers and more psychiatrists. In fact it is more than 2100 FTEs – additional staff – providing expert mental health care to Victorians in need. These growth rates are almost 250 per cent higher than historic averages. It also means that we remain on track to double the mental health workforce by 2031. I am sure every mental health worker in this state would attest that there is more work that needs to be done, and that is why we are reviewing our workforce strategy to make sure that we have got the settings right for the next stage and to make sure that this incredible workforce grows and continues to be supported in the future.