The Victorian Government has today introduced legislation which will lay the foundations to build a new mental health facility following a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

The Royal Commission’s interim report recommended the establishment of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (the Collaborative Centre) ─ embodying a new approach to mental health and characterised by collaboration, responsiveness and continuous improvement.

The Collaborative Centre will be the engine room for the transformed mental health and wellbeing system ─ bringing together people with lived experience, researchers and clinicians to establish best practice in mental health and wellbeing services.

Located in Melbourne, this purpose-built facility will be the first of its kind in Australia ─ conducting research and providing a full suite of mental health services to adults and older adults, helping to translate cutting-edge research into real system improvement.

Think of it as like the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre ─ a world-leading treatment and research facility in the heart of our city that is breaking new ground in research every day ─ but for mental health.

The proposed legislation will ensure people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress are represented at every level of the Collaborative Centre, including on its Governance Board, as part of an innovative co-director model of executive leadership.

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 allocated $3.8 million to establish the Collaborative Centre ─ building on funding of $2.2 million in the Victorian Budget 2020/21 to commence early planning, including the examination of exemplar collaborative centres around both Australia and the world.

A record $3.8 billion was allocated in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 to support the start of this critical mental health and wellbeing reform and to support the system now ─ to ensure struggling Victorians get the treatment and care they need, when they need it.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health James Merlino 

“We’re building a new, more responsive, compassionate and connected mental health system for all Victorians and the Collaborative Centre will be at its core.”

“This will be a facility for all Victorians and the benefits of its cutting edge research and world-class training will flow on to everyone across the state.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“As we rebuild our mental health system, the new Collaborative centre will help us achieve better experiences and outcomes for all Victorians with mental illness.”