Eight Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres opened across Victoria in 2023.

 

About the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres

 

Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres provide support for family, carers and supporters of people with mental health challenges.
 
The centres were a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.  (You can read about them in chapter 19 of Volume 3 of the Royal Commission's final report).

The centres are led by staff who have lived experience supporting someone with mental health challenges. 
 
There is one Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect in each of the Department of Health's eight regions for the delivery of mental health services, although most of the centres operate across a number of locations.
 
The providers for the Centres are: 

  • Barwon South Western: Wellways Australia (lead) with Satellite Foundation and Bethany Community Support
  • Gippsland: Wellways Australia (lead) with Satellite Foundation
  • Grampians: Mind Australia (lead) with Ballarat Community Health and Grampians Community Health
  • Hume: Gateway Health 
  • Loddon Mallee: Mind Australia (lead) with Mallee Family Care 
  • South East (metro): Better Health Network (lead) with Connect Health and Community, and Central Bayside Community Health (partners)
  • North East (metro): Access Health and Community (lead) with with Self Help Addiction Recovery Centre (SHARC), healthAbility, and Inspiro (partners)
  • Western (metro): Jesuit Social Services
 

As with all state government services the budget for the Centres is set by the government.

 

What do the Family and Carer-led Centres do?

 

The Centres provide a warm and welcoming space for families, carers and supporters. They provide information, support and access to funding.

The Centres are being co-designed by families, carers and supporters, in partnership with Tandem. 

The Royal Commission recommended that the Centres:

  • Each have a physical location and an online presence
  • Provide information about supports and services available in each region
  • Connect families, carers and supporters with the right support as available 
  • Offer after-hours access in some form 
  • Provide families, carers, friends, and supporters with access to funds to help with immediate practical needs
  • Support older carers with transition planning 
  • Help families and carers to navigate the Mental Health and Wellbeing system and other supports 
  • Support volunteer-based family and carer peer support groups in each region
 

 

How can I stay informed about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres?

 

We will publish updates about the centres on this websites.

To receive updates by email, join Tandem to receive our monthly eNews.

The best way to have input into mental health reform is to join the Tandem Participation Register.