Children in Melbourne’s West will get the mental health support they need, at no cost – with the new Brimbank Melton Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local now open to support children and families when they need it most.
Victorian Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt and Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride today officially opened the three new Children’s Health and Wellbeing Locals – forming part of the national network of Head to Health Kids services being delivered across Australia.
Delivered by both the Allan and Albanese Labor Governments – the new services deliver on key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy – responding to the need for a renewed focus on early intervention and age-appropriate care to meet development and mental health challenges in younger children.
Support includes specialist medical and allied health services for children who are experiencing developmental, behavioural and emotional challenges, including paediatricians, psychologists, and speech pathologists all under one roof.
Focused on strengthening support for parents, the Locals will also deliver family services, group parenting programs and culturally safe wrap around services.
Designed in consultation with local communities, people with lived experience as well as local service providers, including Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations, the service offerings are tailored to local needs and build on existing services and capacity.
It is estimated that approximately 400 children and their families will utilise each of the three services each year as the services scale up.
In a partnership formalised through the Bilateral Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Victorian and Australian Governments agreed to co-fund the three hubs to improve multidisciplinary care for infants, children and families.
The Commonwealth has provided $22.3 million in funding to support the establishment and operation of the Victorian hubs – part of what will be a national network of Head to Health Kids Hubs.
The Victorian Budget 2021/2022 provided more than $41 million over four years and $13 million ongoing to establish and deliver the three Child Locals.
The Brimbank-Melton service is operated by IPC Health in partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital, and Western Health. Services for the Brimbank-Melton Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local are being delivered from an interim location at IPC’s Sunshine site.
Other hubs are located in Cranbourne and Bendigo – providing specialist support for children aged 0-11 years and their families, free of charge and with no referral required.
Since the Victorian Royal Commission handed down its final report, the Victorian Government has made significant progress, with work underway to implement more than 90 per cent of recommendations and more than $6 billion invested in the system over the past three years – the largest investment in mental health in the state’s history.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt
“For too long families have struggled to access age-appropriate mental health and wellbeing services – these new Locals will ensure more children are given the support they need to help them thrive.”
“Backing our youngest Victorians is critical, but so is supporting their parents – we know how tough it can be to juggle everyday life, especially when a child is struggling, which is why this under-one-roof model is so important.”
“We have made record investments in our mental health system, ensuring Victorians get the care they need and deserve – this partnership with the Commonwealth further bolsters our continued work to rebuild our system.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Laverton Sarah Connolly MP
“This essential new service in Sunshine fills a gap for families and young children with mental health and wellbeing challenges so they can access the dedicated care and treatment they need to live a full life.”
