Thursday, 18 May 2023

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (14:45): (165) My constituency question is for the Minister for Mental Health, who is in the chair. What are the next steps to progress the election commitment we made to plan for a new mental health and wellbeing local service in Coburg? We know how important it is for all Victorians to be able to access the mental health support they need when they need it. As identified through the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, for too long the system has been too difficult for too many to navigate. That is why I was delighted to help secure a commitment by the Andrews Labor government in November 2022 that we will invest $10 million to begin planning for 20 new mental health local services across Victoria, including a new one in Coburg. Once operational this new front-door service will provide free and easy-to-access support and care for adults experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges. As identified in the 2021 ABS census, almost 19,000 residents across Merri-bek have experienced at least one mental health condition, including depression or anxiety. That is 11 per cent of locals compared to 8.8 per cent across Victoria on average. I welcome the chance for the department to engage with local key stakeholders as part of the planning process, including Merri Health, local GP and psychology networks and the proposed community health hub at the Coburg precinct.