ANMF would like to acknowledge mental health members for their continued advocacy, commitment and strength despite another unrelenting pandemic year.
While the reform agenda is bold and, at times, swift, there is no mental health system without mental health nurses.
ANMF will continue to advocate to ensure nurses are leading reform, which, in turn, will attract more nurses, and retain the valuable nurses already in the system.
Here is a look at all the work we’ve done in 2022.
January
Specialist Women’s Mental Health Service progresses with planning for 35 acute mental health public in private beds across Melbourne and Shepparton as per recommendation 2 of the Royal Commission’s Interim Report. ANMF negotiated to ensure nurses would receive equivalent of public sector wages and conditions.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy – $41m in extra funding to support the immediate actions in the Strategy, laid out the strategic plan to deliver the workforce needed to realise the Royal Commission’s vision including additional positions and postgraduate scholarships.
March
One year since the mental health royal commission final report.
April
Orygen Youth Health 20 bed Y-PARC opens in Parkville
May
Victorian Budget 2022-2023 – This Budget invests an additional $1.3 billion to implement recommendations by the Royal Commission.
One year anniversary of our ANMF Royal Commission Working Group. This group of dedicated mental health reps and members meets monthly to discuss the final report, and other relevant reforms in mental health. Members interested in getting involved please email records@anmfvic.asn.au attention Jade Chandler to express your interest.
Mental Health Workforce Safety and Wellbeing Committee commenced, as per recommendation 59 of the Final Report.
June
2020-2024 Victorian Public Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement approved on 17 June 2022. Achieving parity again with general nurses’ wages and conditions, ANMF thanks our Job representatives and members for their commitment during this marathon bargaining period.
July
NWMH disaggregation commences, including Northern Health becoming a designated mental health service.
August
MHWA legislation – The approved bill includes an important amendment which embeds an occupational health and safety (OHS) committee in the Act, to ensure better oversight of worker’s safety and workload issues as the new Act takes effect in 2023. This was a recommendation contained in our 2021 submission regarding the proposed Bill, and a direct result of members’ advocacy and lobbying for this amendment.
23rd Victorian Collaborative Mental Health Nursing Conference – another successful year at ‘The Collab’ with almost 400 attendees to this popular grass roots conference, held face to face at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
September
Brand new build, McKellar Centre opens, providing treatment, care and support to Older Adults in the Geelong Region.
Women’s PARC opens – The 12-bed centre in St Albans, is the first prevention and recovery care centre to provide residential treatment and support for women with accommodation for dependent young children.
The Victorian Collaborative Centre (the ‘VCC’) became operational on 1 September. The new Chair of the VCC Terry Laidler presented and heard from ANMF’s Royal Commission Working Group in November.
October
2020-24 Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement was approved on 10 October 2022 with additional nursing EFT secured for Thomas Embling and the prisons.
The Independent Review into the compulsory treatment criteria commenced on 31 October. ANMF met with the Chair of the Independent Review, Shane Marshall in November to discuss future engagement with our members.
Safer Care Victoria OVA subgroup commences to focus on making systemic change for the mental health nursing workforce, and the unique challenges they face. This includes the messaging of “Safety for All”, strongly supported and endorsed by ANMF.
December
Six Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals are rebranded and launched, consistent with Royal Commission recommendation 3.
ANMF CPD portal – A new CPD platform released with 14 dedicated mental health modules becomes available to ANMF members.
ANMF wish you and your families a restful and enjoyable holiday period, and we hope you get some well-deserved time to rest and recharge for the new year ahead.
