Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System – Final Report and Recommendations

On Tuesday 2 March, the final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was released. The report found widespread gaps and examples of mental health services not meeting the needs of Victorians.

Before the Royal Commission concluded its work, the Government committed to implementing all its recommendations. This means the interim report released last year and the final report will serve as a blueprint for reform.

Changes to the framework of the mental health system

Victoria’s mental health system will see a complete change, starting with a rewriting of Victoria’s laws that guide how mental health services are delivered. A new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act will be drafted, which will enshrine a new focus on wellbeing. Amaze applauds the elevation of wellbeing and the focus that the Royal Commission has given to it.

The Victorian Government will be informed by a new cabinet subcommittee, which will be established to solely focus on mental health and wellbeing. This subcommittee will be chaired by the Premier.

A new independent regulator will be established – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission – whose responsibilities will include keeping both government and service providers accountable for improving how mental health services are delivered, and importantly, leading a complaints mechanism.

A new agency will be established, led by people with lived experience of mental illness, to support the development of organisations and services that are led by and for people with lived experience of mental illness.

The Commission also recommended the establishment of organisations to lead training, research, and develop models of care for mental health services – the most important being the Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing.  Amaze is calling for this Centre to include a discrete stream focussed on autism to strengthen autism knowledge and skills across the mental health sector.  

Mental health services on the ground

The capacity of the mental health system will be increased through the creation of many new or reformed local mental health organisations. These will include:

• 50-60 ‘Local’ organisations for people aged over 25 years (Adult and Older Adult Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services)
• 22 ‘Area’ organisations for people aged over 25 years that cover a wider area than local services and can provide more advanced services. (Adult and Older Adult Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services)
• 13 services for children and young adults (Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services). Some of these hubs will deliver public autism assessments for children. The Royal Commission specifically states that staff working in these Hubs will need to have a good understanding of autism.
• Statewide organisations that provide the most advanced services, which are accessible to people across Victoria.

Major improvements are also recommended to models of care in inpatient mental health settings, including minimising compulsory treatment and restrictions like being locked in a room or sedated, and safety from violence. These are important reforms and should be progressed safely and rapidly.

Next steps for Amaze

Autism needs to be core business of our mental health system. Amaze is advocating for autism-sensitive design and implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

There will be opportunities to inform the design and roll-out of particular parts of the new system. We will continue to provide regular updates for the autism community as new information comes to light.