Question details
Latrobe Valley mental health services
(1292) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Mental Health in the other place, and the action I seek is for the minister to have a meeting with local mental health practitioners and me down in the Latrobe Valley to discuss the dire need for more acute inpatient mental health care services for the Latrobe Valley. As Gippsland’s main acute mental health care provider, Latrobe Regional Health is overwhelmed and under-resourced for the volume of mental health presentations it receives. LRH’s 2023–24 annual report confirms there is a mental health crisis in the Latrobe Valley and, alarmingly, only 36 per cent of mental health patients presenting to the ED were offered a bed within the clinically recommended 8 hours – down from 53 per cent the year prior. Despite the establishment of a $10 million emergency department mental health hub, LRH is failing to meet the service targets and is the worst performing public hospital in the state in terms of meeting mental health community services targeted hours.
This is not a reflection on the hardworking staff or hospital management but a symptom of chronic underfunding, under-resourcing and neglect from the Allan Labor government. Our local health professionals work tirelessly to achieve the best outcomes for our community, but they are fighting with their hands tied behind their backs, and many valley residents are suffering in silence. The Latrobe Valley LGA has the third-highest rate of prescription dependence for mental health conditions in the state, yet many go undiagnosed and untreated because they simply cannot access the care they need. The 31 beds available at LRH for acute inpatient mental health care are woefully inadequate. The extra six beds offered for the onsite mental health hub do not go close to addressing the critical need for more inpatient services. Labor’s closure of the Latrobe Health Assembly and subsequent defunding of mental health initiatives like Live4Life and the WES will only increase demand for acute mental health care and exacerbate this issue facing LRH. LRH is not equipped to shoulder any more of this burden. The hospital and its hardworking staff need help, and they need it in the form of more funding and more beds for inpatient mental health services. What we need is an expansion to the mental health unit at LRH, and nothing less will cut it.
Excerpt from Hansard:
I will first respond to the member for Morwell’s question, representing the Minister for Mental Health in this place. I concur with the member in relation to the great work of the Latrobe Regional Health team in some great facilities there, but I take on board the concern of the member with regard to the mental health funding. Of course our government has made record investments in mental health care in this state, introducing Australia’s first royal commission into mental health and accepting each and every one of those recommendations, but I will seek further information and ensure it is forwarded to the member for Morwell
I thank the member for his question.
No other jurisdiction in the country is doing as much to reform the mental health system as Victoria - and we're not wasting a minute building a system that works for every Victorian no matter where they live - including in the Latrobe Valley and broader Gippsland region.
Latrobe Regional Health provides a comprehensive integrated mental health service to consumers in the region.
A number of bed-based services are available, including acute inpatient beds, mother-baby unit beds, secure extended care unit beds, community care unit beds and older persons acute inpatient beds.
In February this year, we opened a new six bed Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Emergency Department Hub in February 2025 as part of the $223.4 million expansion of Latrobe Regional Hospital. Located alongside the hospital's emergency department, the Hub provides specialist assessment and short-term support to Victorians experiencing urgent mental health, alcohol and drug issues. The new Hub will mean people presenting at the emergency department with mental health issues can be fast tracked to specialist, dedicated care, providing them with the right support sooner and easing pressure on existing resources.
A number of other important investments are supporting the Latrobe community to access specialist supports, including through support and treatment for eating disorders through a regional Early Intervention and Integration Lead positions Latrobe Regional Health and through the Perinatal Emotional Health Program.
As part of this Government's $61.1 million investment to improve the separation of vulnerable consumers in existing Intensive Care Areas (ICAs), including gender based separation, the Latrobe Regional Hospital's ICA is currently being upgraded. This upgrade will provide a more modern and safe environment for both consumers and the workforce.
A new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) service is scheduled to commence services by the end of this year as part of this Government's $141 million investment to expand access to young Victorians across the state. This 10-bed residential service will be delivered by Latrobe Regional Health in partnership with Mind Australia. YPARCs provide 24/7 short-term residential care to young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing mental health challenges and/or psychological distress. Services are provided in a home-like setting, supporting young people to recover in the community and offering an alternative to hospital admission or providing further assistance to recovery following an admission to hospital.
We are also making it easier for those in the Latrobe Valley to access free mental health care and support in the community, close to home - without making them jump through hoops like a GP referral or meeting eligibility criteria. In October 2022, we opened the Latrobe Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Morwell. Since then, we have also delivered Locals in Bairnsdale and Orbost. Across the state, out Locals have supported over 29,000 Victorians.
We have also delivered supports for those who are supporting people living with mental health and substance use challenges or psychological distress though our Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centres, with locations including Traralgon, Wonthaggi and Bairnsdale.
I regularly visit services in the Latrobe and broader Gippsland regions to meet with the workforce and consumers, including just last month, and will continue to do so.
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Ingrid Stitt MP
Minister for Mental Health
Minister for Ageing
Minister for Multicultural Affairs
27 September 2025
28 August 2025
25 November 2025