The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System will release its final report tomorrow (Thursday 4 February 2021).
This is a much-anticipated document. It is expected to shape the way the Victorian Government approaches mental health reform over the coming decade.
With an estimated one in five Victorians experiencing mental illness within their lifetime, the royal commission’s recommendations – and actions taken by the government – will impact on all nurses and midwives, not only those working in mental health. For mental health nurses, we are confident the systemic changes that flow from the report will provide a much-needed boost to clinical services and the mental health nursing workforce.
When the royal commission released its interim report in November 2019, ANMF welcomed its recommendations for urgent action (bit.ly/3aIF631).
These recommendations included providing an additional 170 acute mental health beds and increased opportunities for workforce development, such as 140 fully funded postgraduate scholarships, and more graduate positions.
The final report, expected to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow and posted on the royal commission’s website, will be lengthy and comprehensive.
We encourage members to take the time to read the final report when it is released. ANMF (Victorian Branch) will provide members with our response to the document through our usual communication channels.
Assistant Secretary Maddy Harradence and Mental Health Nursing Officer Jade Chandler will attend the stakeholder briefing event tomorrow morning to hear the royal commission Chair Penny Armytage AM, talk about the final report and recommendations. We have been advised that this event will be recorded and will also be made available on the royal commission’s website.
