Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:24): President, I would like to indicate how thrilled I was to be able to join you and the excellent candidate for Ringwood Rachel Halse to officially open the Maroondah mental health and wellbeing local.

Members interjecting.

Tom McIntosh: On a point of order, President, seriously, if Mr McGowan wants to talk about Ringwood, maybe he can go next door and do it over there, or he can sit and listen to the minister’s ministers statement.

Lizzie Blandthorn: Further to the point of order, President, I would be pleased to offer Mr McGowan the breathing ball – in and out.

The PRESIDENT: I do not know how to address the point of order other than to ask that people keep their interjections down so the minister can continue talking about me. It does not happen very often, so please.

Ingrid STITT: We were out in Ringwood last week to open our flagship initiative in Ringwood, the Maroondah mental health and wellbeing local. Locals are the front door to the mental health system, offering support and treatment for Victorians who are experiencing mental health or psychological distress, including co-occurring substance use or addiction. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experienced mental health professionals, wellbeing staff and peer support workers. I want to give a shout-out to the amazing team out in Ringwood delivering this local. It is all part of our 2025–26 budget, where we invested $34.4 million to strengthen the network of established locals across the state with an additional seven, including the new service in Ringwood. This investment means that Maroondah locals can now get the free support they need close to home without a GP referral or even a Medicare card.

I am proud to be part of a government that is building a mental health system that is all about supporting the community. It is person centred, and it is always guided by lived experience. Our network of locals is transforming access to care for Victorians right across the state, and I am so proud that we have been able to support over 50,000 Victorians with free, stigma-free, easy-to-access mental health supports in their communities. Thank you to the team at the local in Ringwood for showing us around and for the work that they are doing every day to create a safe and welcoming space for the whole community in Maroondah.