The Allan Labor Government is making sure people living in Melton have access to mental health and wellbeing support quickly, easily and without the need for a GP referral - with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton now offering care and support via telehealth.
Member for Melton Steve McGhie today announced the recently established Local Service in Melton will provide free access to support via telehealth from today for anyone aged 26 years and over - including people with co-occurring alcohol and other drug concerns.
The Local Service provided by Mind Australia in partnership with IPC Health, MidWest Area Mental Health Service, Thorne Harbour Health Ltd and Western Health will scale up in the coming months, offering in-person services and becoming a ‘front door’ to the mental health and wellbeing system for those living in Melton.
We know that the best possible support starts close to home, which is why Local Services provide Victorians with community-based care from peer support workers and mental health professionals.
The Local Services deliver on a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, with work now underway on more than 90 per cent of recommendations.
The first six Local Services commenced late last year and have reached more than 3,500 people in Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield, Brimbank, Frankston, Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe, Latrobe, and Whittlesea.
The Labor Government delivered a $776 million boost for mental health and wellbeing services right across Victoria in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 - including $77 million to establish three additional Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and start the planning for another 20 locations.
For more information, including details for how to access telehealth consultations, please visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mhwlocal.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt
“We are delivering the biggest mental health reform in our nation’s history, and local services play an important role in ensuring we deliver the most accessible care for all Victorians, closer to home.”
“Our locals Local Services in Dandenong, Shepparton, Melton, Mildura, Lilydale, Bendigo, Echuca, Orbost and Bairnsdale will now provide fast, free and flexible mental health and wellbeing support via telehealth - as we continue to expand what other services will offer over in the coming months.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Melton Steve McGhie
“Accessible support like this in Melton can make all the difference in helping people address problems quickly and easily before they reach crisis point.”
“The Royal Commission showed us that there can be a number of barriers hindering people’s access to the mental health system – that is why commencing telehealth services now at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton will create a critically important ‘front door’ for people to get the help they need right away.”
