Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Mental health services

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (03:40): (1552) My matter is for the Minister for Mental Health regarding critical funding needed for the mental health services in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region. The action I seek is for the minister to urgently secure the funding for the mental health and wellbeing hubs in Footscray and Werribee beyond June this year. Mental health services play a critical role in supporting individuals and serving their communities. When these services lack stable funding, those who rely on them are left without the support they desperately need. Rather than ensuring the stability of these vital services the government is creating funding uncertainty and putting the mental health of all Victorians at risk.

Mind Australia is the body that provide these services, highlighting the critical role these hubs play in our community. The services correlate with significant improvement in housing, social connection and reduction in homelessness and suicidal ideation among those they support. These services are not just beneficial, they are life saving. The positive outcomes reported include decrease in distress, increased confidence and greater social engagement and employment opportunities. In the Western Metropolitan Region alone the hubs supported over 2100 people and provided more than 464,000 hours of service in 2024 and 2025. However, without this continued funding, we are risking creating significant equality issues in Victorian communities, particularly in the absence of the full rollout of the mental health and wellbeing hubs located across the state.

Despite this serious security need there has been no confirmation of funding extension from the Allan Labor government. The need for quality mental health service support is a most critical area, especially amid an ongoing cost-of-living and housing crisis. The mental health of our community is in decline, and services like those provided by Mind Australia are essential. Therefore I urge the minister to consider the continuation of the funding of mental health and wellbeing hubs across my electorate and the state. All Victorians deserve reliable access to this vital service, and the government cannot afford to let them down any longer.