- Published:
- Saturday 11 March 2023
The Andrews Labor Government is taking another step towards a strengthened, transparent and reformed Mental Health and Wellbeing system – with key appointments made to the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
The new Commission brings expertise, diversity and experience in the mental health field to champion the leadership of people with lived and living experience in the system.
The Commission will be led by Chair Treasure Jennings, who is the current Mental Health Complaints Commissioner. Ms Jennings will bring a wealth of experience and insight from her work in oversight, consumer complaints and dispute resolution.
Ms Jennings will be joined by Commissioners Annabel Brebner, Jacqueline Gibson and Kathleen Maggie Toko who bring strong lived and living experience and leadership to the roles, along with complaints handling, system reform and rights protection.
The new Commission will lead a new independent statutory authority established through the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
The role of the Commission will be to monitor and publicly report on performance, quality and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system, handle and investigate complaints about service delivery, and elevate the leadership of people with lived experience.
Equipped with lessons from the current Victorian Mental Health Complaints Commission, the new body will have broader oversight of the mental health system to drive wider cultural change and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.
The Commission is a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, and a key feature of Victoria’s new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
The Commissioners’ appointment will come into effect on 1 April 2023, and they will prepare for the establishment of the new Commission before formally commencing in their roles on 1 September 2023.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 invested $1.3 billion in mental health and wellbeing, building on last year’s record investment of $3.8 billion – the largest single investment in mental health in Victoria’s history.
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System set out a 10-year vision to reform Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system and more than 90 per cent of work on recommendations is already underway.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams
“I’m proud to announce the Commissioners of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission – an important oversight body that will lead to a safer and more compassionate mental health system for all Victorians.”
“A reliable and accountable mental health system is a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into the mental health system – and the new Commission will play a pivotal role in achieving this outcome.”