Welcome to the Victorian State Government Mental Health Services Web site

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Mental Health Advice Line

The Mental Health Advice Line is a state-wide telephone information service available to all Victorians seeking mental health information, advice and referral for themselves or another person.

The service is for Victorians of all ages and from all backgrounds.  You can call about yourself, a friend or a family member and you may remain anonymous if you wish.

The service is staffed by mental health professionals who provide expert mental health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Call 1300 280 737 for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Victoria. (Calls from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate.)

In an emergency or life threatening situation, you should still call 000.

If you would like to speak another language, we can organise an interpreter. The National Relay Service is available to assist callers who have difficulties with hearing or speech.

Local complaints management for Victoria's public mental health services

In 2009 the Mental Health Ministerial Advisory Committee commissioned a complaints management project to review the complaints management processes at selected mental health services. In response to the committee's recommendations the Minister for Mental Health approved the development of a complaints management framework for resolving complaints locally. This discussion paper begins the process of consultation with consumers and carers and the mental health sector.

Local complaints management for Victoria’s public mental health services - October 2009 discussion paper (pdf, 460kb)

After the Bushfires: Victoria's psychosocial recovery framework (pdf, 243kb) - September 2009

Following the devastating impact of the February 2009 bushfires on Victorian individuals, families and communities, the Victorian Government committed to supporting the psychosocial recovery of people affected by the bushfires.

After the Bushfires: Victoria’s psychosocial recovery framework, provides an evidence informed framework of the range of psychosocial responses required post a disaster such as the Victorian bushfires of 2009. It highlights the principles that support these responses and builds on the Psychosocial model for post emergency individual and community support (DHS 2005).

Shaping the Future: The Victorian mental health workforce strategy

On 6 October 2009, the Minister for Mental Healthlaunched Shaping the Future: The Victorian mental health workforce strategy. The report is a key element of the government’s commitment to developing Victoria’s specialist mental health workforce and sits within the broader longer term framework of workforce and mental health system reform provided by Because mental health matters: Victorian mental health reform strategy 2009-19.

Shaping the future: The Victorian mental health workforce strategy - Final report (pdf, 326kb) - September 2009

Shaping the future: The Victorian mental health workforce strategy - Final report (rtf, 636kb) - September 2009

Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) Services Project

PARC services provide improved access to step up/step down community bed based care as an alternative to hospital inpatient care. The service is designed to meet the treatment needs of eligible clients who are ‘stepping down’ relatively early from inpatient care as well as being responsive to consumers who may require more intensive short term care within a less restrictive treatment setting.

A distinctive feature of PARC services is that the AMHS forms a close partnership with a Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Service provider to deliver the required services to PARC clients. An evaluation of this service type was completed in 2009. The aims of the evaluation were to gauge the effectiveness of PARC services and to provide guidance for ongoing service improvement. Currently there are 10 operational PARC services across Victoria. A further 5 projects are in varying stages of development in the areas of Broadmeadows,Preston, Ringwood, Clayton and Frankston. Completion of the PARC expansion program will bring the total number of PARC beds/places in Victoria to 150.

Final Report for Evaluation of the Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) Services Project - Dench McClean Carlson (PDF File 1.01MB) - December 2008

Emergency Apprehension of Persons subject to a Non-custodial Supervision Order

Section 30 of the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (CMIA) provides for the emergency apprehension of persons subject to a non-custodial supervision order (NCSO). The persons able to apprehend are the person having supervision of the order, a member of the police force, an ambulance officer and a person who is a member of a prescribed class.

New regulations,the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Regulations 2009 expand the persons able to carry out an emergency apprehension, by prescribing a class consisting of registered medical practitioners, Div 1 or 3 nurses, registered psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists, employed by a public sector mental health service that is an approved mental health service or a community mental health service, to provide care and treatment to persons with a mental disorder. The regulations commenced operation on 23 June 2009.

For further information about NCSOs refer to the Non-custodial supervision orders. Policy and procedures manual (PDF file 816KB) - July 2009

Strengthening consumer participation in Victoria’s public mental health services - Action Plan - 18 May 2009

Renew: a psychosocial response to bushfires (PDF File 123kb) - March 2009
The February 2009 bushfires have had a devastating impact on many Victorian individuals, families and communities. The Brumby Government has a psychosocial 1 response to the fires, which will be implemented in partnership with communities, frontline workers and clinical experts in trauma to ensure that those who are affected receive the best possible help to regain their mental health.

Because mental health matters – Victorian mental health reform strategy 2009-19 - February 2009
Developed through extensive consultation with those who live with mental illness, their families, friends, carers and those who work to support them, Because mental health matters – Victorian mental health reform strategy 2009-19 represents a commitment by the Victorian government to ensure all Victorians have the opportunities they need to maintain good mental health while also supporting those with a mental illness to access high quality, timely care and live successfully in the community. Hard copies available from the on-line ordering page.