Mental Health and Wellbeing Act Submissions

Written By Simon Katterl

In Victoria the State government is undertaking preparing to introduce a Mental Health and Well Act in 2022. Unfortunately a decision was made to keep all submissions - irrespective of the wishes of the person/organisation submitting - private. This means that the public cannot assess how the Victorian Government has assessed your submission and included your voice. The rationale for this was that it would allow more frank discussions, but I believe the trade-off in terms of transparency and accountability - two themes that emerged from the Royal Commission’s final report - is too great.

Therefore I reached out to the Department of Health to see if they could informally make submissions available, or whether I would need to undertake a FOI application. The Department of Health agreed to reach out to a list of organisations that I requested submissions from, and sent me the documents if the organisations consented. I have listed the organisations below, with the submissions that aren’t as yet released with strike-through text:

  • Designated mental health services

    • Albury Wodonga Health

    • Alfred Health

    • Austin Health

    • Ballarat Health Services

    • Barwon Health

    • Bendigo Health Care Group

    • Eastern Health

    • Goulburn Valley Health

    • Melbourne Health

    • Mercy Public Hospitals Incorporated

    • Mildura Base Public Hospital

    • Monash Health

    • Latrobe Regional Hospital

    • New Mildura Base Hospital

    • Peninsula Health

    • South West Healthcare

    • St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) Limited

    • The Royal Children's Hospital, and

    • Any consortiums or shared submissions amongst psychiatrists.

    Regulatory oversight, quality improvement and human rights agencies

    • Mental Health Complaints Commissioner

    • Safer Care Victoria (Mental Health Improvement Unit)

    • Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and Office of the Chief Mental Health Nurse

    • Office of the Public Advocate

    • Any interstate or national regulatory, quality improvement or human rights agencies.

Those that are available I have put in a drive here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjpIj8mGzv4UqzVotfmWImSzlII6?e=Xyhxth

Simon Katterl
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