Recommendation 59

What the Royal Commission said

The physical and mental wellbeing of the mental health workforce has an impact on the delivery of care. The Royal Commission highlighted a number of systemic issues that have an impact on workforce wellbeing.

These include:

• burnout
• professional isolation
• reliance on crisis models of care
• limited access to practice supports
• occupational violence and safety
• the need for leadership and management support.

The Royal Commission recommended measures to improve workforce safety and wellbeing. This included the establishment of a Mental Health Workforce Safety and Wellbeing Committee (the Committee) co-chaired by the Department of Health and WorkSafe Victoria.

The Committee was established to:

1. identify, monitor and address existing and emerging physical safety and wellbeing risks; and
2. develop tailored monitoring approaches for the psychological health and safety of staff in the mental health and wellbeing workforce.

What we've achieved

Mental Health Workforce Safety and Wellbeing Committee

• The Committee is enshrined in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022. It is jointly chaired by the Department of Health and WorkSafe Victoria and includes senior representatives from the health and community sector, professional and industrial bodies, lived and living experience workforce representatives, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission and the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• The Committee meets quarterly and provides expert advice on issues relating to the safety and wellbeing of Victoria's mental health workforce. The Committee also provides advice to the department on implementation strategies.
• Since its establishment in 2022, the Committee has provided advice to shape key monitoring tools including the Mental Health Workforce Personnel Survey and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes and Performance Framework.
• The Committee has provided strategic advice on the next iteration of the mental health and wellbeing workforce strategy, implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, and the strategy towards elimination of seclusion and restraint.
• 100 allied health professionals and 100 mental health nurses have been trained in clinical supervision from 2023-2025 to create safe and supportive working environments.

What we're doing

Mental Health Workforce Safety and Wellbeing Committee

• The Committee has commissioned a Systems Thinking Analysis and Recommendations (STAR) project to provide the Department of Health and WorkSafe Victoria with a detailed understanding of occupational violence and aggression in adult and youth acute mental health settings, and insight into potential interventions.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy

• Victoria's Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-2024 responded to key recommendations of the Royal Commission.
• Supporting the safety, wellbeing and retention of the mental health and wellbeing workforce was a key priority of the strategy. The sector is currently being consulted on a refreshed mental health and wellbeing workforce strategy.