What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission recommended the Victorian Government:
- establish and recurrently resource ‘community collectives' for mental health and wellbeing in each local government area.
- support each community collective to bring together a diversity of local leaders and community members to guide and lead efforts to promote social connection and inclusion in Victorian communities.
- test and develop a range of initiatives that support community participation, inclusion and connection.
- by the end of 2022, establish one social prescribing trial per region in Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services to support healthcare professionals to refer people, particularly older Victorians, living with mental illness, into community initiatives.
What are the opportunities?
Social prescribing can help connect people who are experiencing isolation and loneliness with community groups and supports. For example, arts and creative activities, outdoor activities or volunteering.
Social prescribing trials will give communities the opportunity to trial initiatives that meet their local needs.
What are we doing?
Social prescribing trials will commence in six Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services from July 2022.
Locations include Latrobe Valley, Benalla, Frankston, Geelong, Brimbank and Whittlesea.
Implementation of the rest of this recommendation is not scheduled to commence this year. This page will be updated when information is available.
The Victorian Government has committed to implementing all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System. Rebuilding Victoria's mental health system is a 10-year reform plan, with implementation being done in a staged and sequential way.
The 2021-22 Victorian State Budget invested $3.8 billion in mental health and wellbeing services and responding to the Royal Commission's recommendations.
All work is focused on ensuring Victorians get the mental health treatment, care, and support they deserve.
Reviewed 17 March 2022