The Royal Commission provides us with a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate improvements in access to mental health services, service navigation and models of care.
Eastern Health welcomes the opportunities this process will provide the mental health sector to further improve services.
We are committed to being fully cooperative and transparent in responding to requests of the Commission and we want to share our progress with the wider community.

Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC)

VMIAC is the peak Victorian organisation for people with a lived experience of mental health or emotional challenges.

Tandem
Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing family and friends supporting people living with mental health issues

Self Help Addiction Resource
Centre (SHARC)
Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC) promotes self-help approaches to recovery from severe alcohol and drug related issues.

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) IMHA is a service provided by VLA. IMHA complements and enhances VLA’s existing legal services for people with mental health issues.

In February 2019 the Mental Health System was described by many as ‘broken’ and failing to support those who needed it most.

Throughout 2019 and 2020, the Commission extensively engaged with people with a lived and  living experience of with mental illness, their families, carers and supporters, mental health workers, researchers, service providers and others.

Powerful contributions were heard from people with lived and living experience who shared personal experiences about how the system has failed and sometimes even harmed them. Eastern Health welcomed the opportunity to be part of the process.

 

Recommendations from the Royal Commission

The Royal Commission has made 65 recommendations to transform Victoria’s Health Service, which will be implemented over a ten-year timeframe.

‘The Commission’s recommendations are centred on transformational reform, with a vision for a balanced system where mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support are provided in the community, hospital and other residential settings.

These reforms aim to rebalance the system so that more services will be delivered in community settings and extend beyond a health response to a more holistic approach to good mental health and wellbeing across the community’

The Royal Commission provides us with a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate improvements in access to mental health services, service navigation and models of care.

We are uniquely positioned as a major provider of mental health services to contribute to the future of mental health services.

Eastern Health welcomes the opportunities this process will provide the mental health sector to further improve services.

We are committed to being fully cooperative and transparent in responding to requests of the Commission.

 

Please be aware:

Content in Eastern Health’s submissions to the Royal Commission into Victoria Mental Health System may be confronting for some people.

If you or a loved one require support, the following services are available to support you.

For situations that are harmful or life-threatening contact emergency services immediately via Triple Zero 000

If you’re not in immediate danger but need support, the following services are also available:

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
  • 24/7 Nurse-On-Call: 1300 60 60
  • Eastern Health 24/7 mental health triage line: 1300 721 927
  • Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) the peak body for people with lived experience of mental illness and/or emotional issues:  9380 3900

 

Submissions:

Eastern Health Submission to the Victorian Royal Commission into MH July 2019 (PDF, 1.3MB)

Spectrum Submission to the Victorian Royal Commission into MH July 2019  (PDF, 490KB)

Turning Point Submission to the Victorian Royal Commission into MH July 2019 (PDF, 1MB)

If you require content in an alternate format please contact us.

  • The system is overwhelmed, unable to keep up with the number of people seeking treatment
  • Investment is inadequate and the workforce is under-resourced
  • There are clear gaps in the system:
    • Community-based services are lacking
    • There is a ‘missing middle’ – people have needs that are too complex or too severe to be met through seeing a GP or private psychologist/psychiatrist but not severe enough to meet the criteria for entry into specialist mental health services
    • The system is crisis-driven where hospital Emergency Departments are used as entry points.
  • Accessing services can be difficult:
    • Wait periods are lengthy and people become more unwell, before they can get help
    • Poverty and disadvantage make access harder
    • Access is worse in regional and rural areas where suicide rates and workforce shortages are higher in these areas
    • There are barriers to care for people from diverse communities and social groups – including Aboriginal people, LGBTIQ+ people, refugees, asylum seekers, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities 
  • The system is out of balance compared with what we know works and is needed:
    • There is an over-reliance on medication, use of restraint, seclusion and compulsory treatment
    • There is a lack of focus on therapeutic strength-based treatments
    • People are not involved in making their own decisions about their treatment, care and support
    • Families, carers and supporters feel left out and are not receiving appropriate support

In January 2022 Eastern Health formed a Royal Commission Project Team to guide and support the development and implementation of  a transformation plan

Consultation sessions led by the project team have taken place with a wide range of clinicians and lived experience workers from across our Mental Health Program. A great deal of valuable information has been gathered through these discussion about how Eastern Health can best transform and address the Royal Commission’s recommendations and the eight initial priorities.

The Transformation Plan was completed and submitted to the Department of Health in June 2022. 

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We aim to provide safe spaces for all our consumers and are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all individuals. This includes the needs of our first nations people, trans, gender diverse and non-binary consumers. We aim to work with our consumers to identify what is needed in order for them to feel safe.

We welcome any questions about Eastern Health’s Royal Commission response which  you can send to the Project Team at: [email protected]

Eastern Health has developed is now implementing its own Transformation Plan to ensure we successfully deliver improvements against priority areas.

In line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission findings, we are improving our mental health and wellbeing service by:

  • Increasing our services at times when you need us
  • Ensuring we have people who understand your experience first-hand
  • Supporting daily health and wellbeing as well as your mental health needs
  • Improving care for people living with both mental health and substance use concerns

Victoria will have a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act from 1st September 2023

How will the new Act better support the people that use our services?

  • The Act upholds the rights of consumers by promoting the values, preferences and views of Victorians with mental illness or psychological distress.
  • Consumers will be better connected to advocacy support when they need it. Consumers will be supported to understand and exercise their rights and to participate in decisions about treatment. Supported decision making practices are promoted.
  • Diversity of care and support services will be offered, determined by the needs and preferences of the person.
  • Least restrictive care is promoted, meaning care is provided with the least possible restrictions of a person’s rights, promoting dignity, autonomy, recovery and full participation in life.
  • The Act supports young people and children. The health and wellbeing, autonomy and safety of young people (including dependents) is promoted and supported.
  • Care delivered will be responsive to diversity and gender safety – The diverse needs, experiences and safety are actively considered to ensure that care delivered will be safe, sensitive and responsive.
  • Cultural Safety is promoted. Our services are to be culturally safe and responsive to people of all racial, ethnic, religious, faith-based and cultural backgrounds.

Where can I access more information?