Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (19:23): My adjournment matter is for the Acting Premier and Minister for Mental Health, and the action that I seek is for the Acting Premier or his representative to officially open the Ballarat Community Health mental health and wellbeing hub in my electorate of Wendouree.

I thank the Acting Premier and the Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health for their commitment to improving mental health services across Victoria and for the work that is being done to support those who need it.

Last year the Andrews Labor government delivered a record $869 million funding boost to the mental health system as part of the Victorian budget. Around one in five Victorians will experience a mental health problem this year. Suicide is consistently the leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 44. For these reasons and many others, our government is implementing every recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and is rebuilding the mental health system that will support all of us now and into the future.

The Wendouree new mental health and wellbeing hub will be located at 10 Learmonth Road in the redeveloped Cooinda Centre. This state-of-the-art facility was part funded with a $3 million grant from the Andrews Labor government.

Our investment into the mental health and wellbeing hub is all about treating and supporting people in the community. Services provided by Ballarat Community Health at this site will include children’s assessments, counselling, treatment services and family violence support. Group programs will be available from the site, including creative arts, cooking, mental health drop-ins and exercise classes. The needle and syringe program will also be operating in a confidential space, including a vending machine and full service. It is pleasing to hear that lived experience team members will also be available at the hub to provide valuable expertise and insights whilst promoting recovery and hope for clients.

I am incredibly proud of the Andrews Labor government’s investment in mental health and the way we are destigmatising mental illness and transforming lives by improving services across Ballarat and Victoria.

I look forward to welcoming the Acting Premier or his representative to officially open the Ballarat Community Health Wendouree mental health and wellbeing hub in the near future.

Read the Minister’s response here – or for more of my contributions in Parliament, click here.