Western Health is a designated Mental Health Service, a direct result of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health and the proposal to provide a more accessible, responsive, and well-resourced mental health service delivery for Victorians in north and western metropolitan Melbourne, and better align with the future mental health and wellbeing system in Victoria.
Western Health is working with our partners, communities and consumers to drive the planning, establishment and development of mental health and wellbeing services.
-
Background
In February 2019, the Governor of the State of Victoria formally set up the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The Commission’s interim report sets out nine recommendations to commence a new approach to mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support. The Victorian Government has started implementing these recommendations.
The final report builds on these priority reforms with 65 recommendations to transform Victoria’s mental health system by creating a mental health and wellbeing system that is contemporary and adaptable.
The report comprises five volumes:- Volume 1: A new approach to mental health and wellbeing in Victoria
- Volume 2: Collaboration to support good mental health and wellbeing
- Volume 3: Promoting inclusion and addressing inequities
- Volume 4: The fundamentals for enduring reform
- Volume 5: Transforming the system—innovation and implementation
Why?
The transformational changes allow mental health services to optimise their capacity to be fully connected and accountable to their local area and manage their staffing and flexibility to meet demand.
Following the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the mental health services currently servicing North West Metropolitan Melbourne will align to the localised geographical area and (in most parts), the local health service.- Changes will allow an enhanced focus on care in one’s community-based care, where people receive the treatment and support for their needs close to where they live.
- Create a responsive and integrated system that is accessible and simpler to navigate, with clear pathways to timely and appropriate supports for consumers and their families, carers and supporters.
- Improve upon an integrated and responsive health system that works collaboratively with the community to deliver accessible, responsive and adaptable mental health services.
What happened within Western Health?
- The MidWest Area Mental Health Services (MWAMHS) separated from the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s NorthWestern Mental Health (NWMH) and is now operated by Western Health
- NorthWestern Mental Health staff transitioned to Western Health on 1 July 2023
- Mental Health consumers in the Maribyrnong Local Government Area will access services previously provided by Mercy Health.
- Western Health commenced operational oversight of the ECAT and CL services based at Footscray.
- Western Health became a service provider for older adults as part of the Adult and Older Adult service stream, with a decision on which components of NWMH’s Aged Persons Mental Health Program.
-
Our Services
Western Health provides mental health and wellbeing services for people living in western metropolitan Melbourne.
We deliver a range of specialist, community, and hospital-based mental health services for people who are experiencing, or at risk of developing serious mental ill-health.
We work with people who have a range of diagnoses, such as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Those at risk of harm to themselves or others
- Those with more than one disorder, including drug and alcohol-related issues
Our Services:
- Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (AMHRU)
- Behavioural Assessment and Specialist Intervention Consultations Service (BASICS)
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service (CAPS)
- Community Care Unit (CCU)
- Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
- Consultation Liaison (CL) Psychiatry Service
- Emergency Mental Health (EMH) Service
- Harvester Private Consulting Suites
- HOPE Team (Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement)
- Intensive Community Treatment (ICT)
- Older Adult Mental Health Inpatient Units (Sunshine Aged Persons Mental Health Unit (APMHU))
- Perinatal Mental Health Service
- Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC)
- Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre
- Yanna Yanna Women’s Prevention and Recovery Care (WPARC)
 |
 |
 |