What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission recommended the Victorian Government establish a responsive and integrated mental health and wellbeing system.
The new system will ensure people receive services locally and in the community throughout Victoria, close to their families, carers, supporters and networks.
The Royal Commission’s redesigned system called for service delivery across Victoria at local, area-based and statewide levels comprising:
- between 50 to 60 new Adult and Older Adult Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services that operate with extended hours and are delivered in a variety of settings;
- 22 Adult and Older Adult Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services delivered through partnerships between public health services or public hospitals and non-government organisations that deliver wellbeing supports;
- 13 Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services delivered through partnerships between public health services or public hospitals and non-government organisations that deliver wellbeing supports; and
- statewide services that are delivered in a way that minimises the need for people to travel far to access services.
The Royal Commission also called on the Victorian Government to:
- realign existing boundaries and organise mental health and wellbeing services across eight regions to improve planning and governance;
- remove rigid boundaries (or catchments) for service delivery based on where people live
- establish the requirements for each service and the links between them through a ‘service capability framework’.
What are we doing?
Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
The Victorian Government is progressively establishing Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services across Victoria.
The first of the new services, known as Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals (Local Services), opened in late 2022.
Read more about the Service Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals.
Reviewed 23 June 2025
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