Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:23): (1397) My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, it has been reported today that the Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is in crisis, amid claims of violence, drug use and patient deaths in its first year of operation. It was also reported that the chief executive lives in Queensland and only attends onsite a few days a month. So I ask: how many days this year has the Brisbane-based CEO worked from the Parkville premises?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (13:23): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. At the outset, I want to reiterate our government’s commitment when it comes to youth mental health services in Victoria and how we know that in fact 75 per cent of diagnosable mental health illnesses are presenting before people turn 25 years of age. So it is incredibly important that we continue to invest in youth mental health services. Of course PYMHWS is a health service that was created to support the west and north-west corridors in Melbourne. I have recently actually appointed a new chair to the board of PYMHWS, a very experienced health service chair who has hit the ground running. I have made my expectations very clear to her about the way in which the CEO’s work arrangements ought to occur. Our government has created PYMHWS, and it is critical for everyone, not only in that service but across the community, that people who use the PYMHWS receive the best possible care. I am confident that the new chair has a very strong focus on the leadership requirements of the service and also of the clinical governance arrangements that are in place.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:25): I note that the minister failed to answer my question. Eminent youth mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry has raised his concerns, telling the minister:

There are serious concerns that clinical care is being affected and that an escalation in serious incidents involving … clients is creating significant risk for …patients and staff …

… clinical practice guidelines are no longer being consistently followed. Patients are being discharged earlier than guidelines mandate and fidelity to evidence-based treatments is declining.

He said the ‘absentee model of management’ was a contributing factor. It is reported that the minister has not even bothered to respond. So I ask: Minister, what are you doing to improve care for patients and staff safety at this service, which is central to Professor McGorry’s concerns?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (13:25): I thank Ms Crozier for her supplementary question. Can I indicate that I have a deep respect for Professor McGorry. He is an eminent expert in youth mental health in our state and indeed an Australian of the Year. He has a deep understanding of mental health priorities.

Members interjecting.

Ingrid STITT: I was about to go on to say, Ms Crozier, that I regularly engage with Professor McGorry. He sits on the ministerial advisory committee into our mental health reforms. I meet with him regularly. I met with him recently about these very issues. My department has been following up the PYMHWS in regard to the concerns that Pat McGorry has raised. In this I am very clear: both Professor McGorry and I share a very important principle here that it is incredibly important that the PYMHWS provides high-quality care to young people across the west and north-west.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:27): I move:

That the minister’s responses be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.