Published on 21 March 2022
Dear colleagues,
I’m writing to provide an update on the implementation of mental health service delivery reforms across north and west metropolitan Melbourne. These reforms are part of the proposal from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System to provide a more accessible, responsive and well-resourced mental health service system for consumers and communities in these catchments.
The attached update goes into detail regarding the transition of mental health services in north and west Melbourne and outlines key changes for the health services involved including Western Health, Northern Health, Mercy Health, Austin Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital and Orygen.
The key change for our health service is that Mid West Area Mental Health Services will separate from the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s NorthWestern Mental Health and Mercy Mental Health services for Maribyrnong will separate and both will come together to be operated by Western Health by mid 2023. We welcome this change and look forward to these staff joining Western Health next year.
Once our colleagues in the north have transitioned services we will commence working with North West and Mercy Mental Health on the detailed plan to support the transition of staff and services to Western Health and we will share more specifics in the near future. But it is important to note there will be no job losses in any of the services and for many impacted staff their employment will not change.
For more information, I’d encourage you to read the update in full.
North and West Metropolitan Melbourne Mental Health System Reform