The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended the establishment of up to 60 Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services across Victoria.
The new service stream, now known as Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals (Local Services), are an important part of Victoria’s reformed mental health and wellbeing system.
They provide an easy way to get treatment, care and support for people aged 26 years and over who are experiencing mental health concerns – including people with co-occurring alcohol and drug treatment and care needs.
Information for consumers, carers, families and supporters is on the Better Health Channel including a factsheet available in English and 24 community languages.
Local Services locations
The locations for the first 27 Local Services have been confirmed and will be progressively established over coming years in a phased approach.
The 27 Local Services locations are:
- Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield
- Brimbank
- Frankston
- Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe
- Latrobe
- Whittlesea
- Dandenong
- Shepparton
- Melton
- Mildura
- Lilydale
- Bendigo-Echuca
- Orbost-Bairnsdale
- Melbourne
- Werribee-Truganina
- Ballarat
- Craigieburn-Sunbury
- Ringwood
- Horsham-Ararat
- Warrnambool-Hamilton-Portland
Now open
The first 6 Local Services are now open in the local government areas of Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield, Brimbank, Frankston, Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe, Latrobe and Whittlesea.
The service providers are:
- Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield: Wellways Australia in partnership with Albury Wodonga Health and Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO)
- Brimbank: cohealth in partnership with Clarity Health Care and the University of Melbourne
- Frankston: Wellways Australia in partnership with Peninsula Health and Mentis Assist
- Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe: Barwon Health in partnership with Wellways Australia, ermha365 and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
- Latrobe: Neami National in partnership with Drummond Street Services and Uniting Vic.Tas
- Whittlesea: Neami National in partnership with Drummond St Services, Uniting Vic Tas and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
Further locations
The next 9 Local Services will be established in: Dandenong, Shepparton, Melton, Mildura, Lilydale, Bendigo-Echuca and Orbost-Bairnsdale.
Additional Local Services will then be established in Melbourne, Werribee-Truganina, Ballarat, Craigieburn-Sunbury, Ringwood, Horsham-Ararat and Warrnambool-Hamilton-Portland.
By the end of 2026, we plan to set up services for all Victorian adults and older adults. This will mean Victorians will get the support they need sooner while staying in their community, closer to their families, carers and supporters.
Tender process for next Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals now open
The Advertised Call for Submission (ACS) for the second tranche of Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals closed at 2pm on Thursday 6 April 2023.
Submissions received through the ACS are now undergoing evaluation and outcomes will be shared later this year.
Consultation and engagement
The Royal Commission’s Final Report described how Local Services will provide clinical and wellbeing mental health supports that respond to individuals’ needs.
The Department of Health held a number of engagement and consultation activities in 2021 to guide the establishment of the first six Local Services. This included a broad public consultation survey, interviews and focus group discussions, as well as place-based focused consultations for each of the first six Local Service locations.
People with lived experience and their families, carers and supporters gave valuable insights about the way they want to experience local services. We also heard from people working in mental health and alcohol and other drug services, other health and related services and the broader community.
Read more about our engagement activities on the Local Services Engage Victoria
Place-based engagement
The department encourages service providers to engage directly with their local communities to ensure the service is responsive to the diverse needs of the local community.
Please contact the team at LocalServices@health.vic.gov.au if you have any further questions regarding Local Services.
Service Framework
The Department of Health has developed a Service Framework for providers of this new service stream. It will guide the operation and service delivery of Local Services across Victoria.
The Service Framework reflects the vision and findings of the Royal Commission. It was developed with valuable and diverse input from people with a lived and living experience of mental illness, as well as technical and clinical advice from the mental health and wellbeing sector.
The framework outlines the objectives, key operational principles, service features and functions, components of the service model and the workforce, data reporting and operational requirements for Local Services.
Read the Service Framework on the Recommendation 3 page.
Reviewed 05 May 2023