Recommendation 44

What the Royal Commission said

The Royal Commission recommends that the Victorian Government:

1. establish an independent statutory authority, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, to:
   1. hold government to account for the performance and quality and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system;
   2. support people living with mental illness or psychological distress, families, carers and supporters to lead and partner in the improvement of the system;
   3. monitor the Victorian Government's progress in implementing the Royal Commission's recommendations; and
   4. address stigma related to mental health.
2. ensure the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission:
   1. is led by a Chair Commissioner and who is supported by a small group of Commissioners, all of whom are appointed by the Governor-in-Council; and
   2. includes at least one Commissioner with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress and one Commissioner with lived experience as a family member or carer.
3. enable the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission to:
   1. obtain data and information about mental health and wellbeing service delivery, system performance and outcomes, and other relevant information, from all government agencies;
   2. work with and share data and information with the Department of Health and other relevant entities (for example, the Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Safer Care Victoria);
   3. initiate its own inquiries into matters that support its objectives;
   4. handle and investigate complaints about mental health and wellbeing service delivery;
   5. make recommendations to the Premier, any minister and the heads of public service bodies; and
   6. publish reports on the performance and quality and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system.

   What are the opportunities?

   The new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission will be established as an independent authority. It will work with new and existing agencies to play a central role in the reformed mental health and wellbeing system.

   What are we doing?

   The Victorian Government has appointed four Commissioners to lead the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.

   Chair Commissioner Treasure Jennings is supported by three Commissioners – Annabel Brebner, Jacqueline Gibson and Kathleen Maggie Toko. The appointments follow an Expression of Interest (EOI) process in 2022.

   The Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 establishes the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as an independent statutory authority. The Commission will be established with full powers and responsibilities when the new Act commences on 1 September 2023.

   At this time, the functions of the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner will fold into the new Commission.

   The Commissioners start priority planning work from April 2023 to ensure the new Commission is ready to operate with full functions from 1 September 2023.

   Read more about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.