News

Health | February 21, 2018

Constituency Questions - Mental Health

Victorian Parliament - 21 February 2018 - Ms KEALY - My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. How long will Victorians with mental illness, their friends, family and other carers have to wait for the Andrews Labor government to sign off on an agreement to access vital funds through the $80 million Liberal and Nationals federal government psychosocial support services fund for community mental health, when agreement discussions have been significantly delayed for the frivolous reason of staffing changes in the Victorian minister’s office? Our community mental health sector deserves certainty of funding so that their vital programs can continue to keep people well through the transition to the national disability insurance scheme. We need to support people to stay well and engage with the community rather than wait for them to get to crisis point and then provide acute intervention, sadly all too late for some.

It is extremely disappointing to hear that discussions with the Victorian government have not progressed due to simple staffing changes in the Victorian minister’s office. Securing funding for community mental health should be a priority for the Andrews Labor government, but clearly it is not. How much longer will the community have to wait for the minister to sign off on the agreement so they can continue to receive the mental health support they need?