What you need to know

• NDS has begun consultation with the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services to identify how the needs of people with disability will be addressed.
• The mental health locals offer a full range of supports and differ from other service hubs.
• A new earn-and-learn traineeship gives mental health workers the chance to get qualifications while they work in the sector.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Services  

The Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, now known as Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals, are one of the flagship reforms recommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.  

NDS is meeting with the new local services to identify eligibility and intake pathways to ensure equity of access for people with disability and identify opportunities for collaboration. Local services are currently being rolled out, with up to 60 planned by the end of 2026. When fully operational, each local service will offer a full range of supports, including face-to-face, telehealth and outreach services, that are provided one-on-one and in groups. 

All local services will support shared care and referrals between primary, secondary and regional area mental health services as an individual’s needs increase or decrease.  

The local services will: 

• be available to people who are 26 years and over requiring more support than existing primary and secondary mental health services, such as general practitioners, private psychologists and psychiatrists 
• focus on supporting people to prevent, manage and recover from mental illness  
• be delivered by a multidisciplinary workforce, including consumer and family peer workers, mental health clinicians and wellbeing support workers 
• not require a referral or need to meet other eligibility criteria for access, with priority given to people who experience barriers to access or vulnerability and disadvantage
• not routinely be responding to people who are in crisis. 

Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Services in development  

Six services are in the establishment phase: Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield, Brimbank, Frankston, Greater Geelong-Queenscliff, Latrobe, and Whittlesea.  

Planning is already underway for the second group of local services covering Melbourne, Werribee-Truganina, Ballarat, Craigieburn-Sunbury, Ringwood, Horsham-Ararat and Warrnambool-Hamilton-Portland.  A third group of local services, set to open by the end of the 2023, include Dandenong, Shepparton, Melton, Mildura, Lilydale, Bendigo-Echuca and Orbost-Bairnsdale.   

Further details are available on the Victorian Government Department of Health website. During the establishment phase, there will still be services for anyone seeking mental health support, including Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs, Partners in Wellbeing, Head to Health services. 

Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs 

Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs provide short-term well-being support for a range of different issues, including lowered mood, anxiety, substance use or addiction, or any distress experienced by any person. Initial intake and assessments will occur at the hubs to determine the person’s eligibility and level of care.   

The hubs also provide social and community connections to support personal recovery, as well as linking across services and helping people, their family, carers or supporters to manage stressful situations, such as threats to homelessness, financial difficulties and social isolation.  

All support is free and available to everyone in Victoria. A referral, mental health treatment plan or Medicare card is not required to receive the hub services.  

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs do not offer crisis or emergency support. In an emergency where there is immediate risk of harm to a person, call Triple Zero (000). For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline on Tel. 13 11 14.  

Persons between 12 and 25 years old should be encouraged to visit or contact their local Headspace centre for mental health and wellbeing support. 

Partners in Wellbeing 

Partners in Wellbeing is a service funded by the Victorian Government, which assists people with access, referral and navigation to the Mental Health Local and Hub Services.  

Partners in Wellbeing is funded by the Victorian Government and is being delivered by Neami National, EACH and ACSO across Victoria.  

For more information, please contact Partners in Wellbeing on 1300 375 330 for an initial discussion, or you can drop by one of the walk-in services.  

Head to Health  

Head to Health is the new digital mental health gateway developed by the Australian Government through the Department of Health. Head to Health provides a free central intake service to people who may be experiencing distress or mental ill health. Individuals or their families and carers can access a range of telephone-based and online mental health services, which are either free or low cost.  

When a person calls Head to Health on 1800 595 212, an experienced mental health professional listens to them to find the best ways to get the help they need, which may include: 

• connecting with suitable existing services  
• receiving care at a Head to Health hub, either onsite or through telehealth  
• connecting to specialist or acute mental health services, including emergency care. 

The Head to Health hubs provide access to multidisciplinary teams of mental health workers, including psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and peer workers. The hubs provide a flexible model of care tailored to the person, recognising that people have different mental health care needs at different times. The hubs are now open at more than 20 locations across Victoria. 

New Earn and Learn Traineeship supporting students into the mental health workforce  

The Victorian government has announced the new Earn and Learn Traineeship which will create create 50 new community support jobs for Mental Health and Wellbeing trainees while they study a Certificate IV in Mental Health. The providers include: 

• Mind Australia 
• Wellways Australia 
• EACH 
• Uniting Vic. Tas 
• Star Health 
• Mallee Family Care.  

The program is part of Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021–24, which outlines a strategic approach to deliver the diverse, skilled and multidisciplinary workforce required for Victoria’s reformed mental health and wellbeing system. 

The program has received 4.5 million in funding from the government, which also included support for educator roles to support trainees at these services. This will ensure a safe and supportive learning environment. Trainees will receive supervision and relevant placements through their employment period. 

The Certificate IV in Mental Health and Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Support is also subsidised by the Victorian Government as part of the Free TAFE program. 

For more information, please visit the Jobs Victoria website.    

Article sourced from National Disability Services