Status: Delivered
What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission estimated the economic cost of poor mental health in Victoria is $14.2 billion a year. This included a cost of $1.9 billion a year to employers - with $1.6 billion in lost productivity and $300 million due to workplace injuries.
Better mental health treatment, care and support that helps to reduce the intensity of symptoms and helps people engage in day-to-day life, also has economic benefits for the community.
The Royal Commission called for a new approach to mental health investment and funding. To support the plans for the reforms, and to ensure that the new mental health system is sustainable, the new investment approach will include:
- a new revenue mechanism for the provision of operational funding for mental health services; and
- a dedicated capital investment fund.
What we've achieved
Mental Health Levy
- Established the Mental Health and Wellbeing Levy on 1 January 2022 to provide a dedicated funding stream that supports increased investment in Victoria's mental health system into the future.
- The government has legislated that 100 per cent of the revenue from the Levy must be spent on mental health services – leading to an additional $1.259 billion in investment into the system in 2024-25.
Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Capital Renewal Fund
- Continued funding the Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Capital Renewal Fund. This fund aims to improve services through works such as remodelling and refurbishment to make the services better and safer for consumers, staff and carers including projects such as:
- Upgrading EACH's Beaver Street facility including soundproofed consulting rooms, improved staff amenities and important safety upgrades
- Security upgrades at Latrobe Regional Health
- Refurbishment of an existing building into a dedicated social and emotional wellbeing centre for Elders at Aboriginal Community Elders Services
- Upgrading Mildura Base Public Hospital's Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
Updated