The State is calling for four people to fill the roles of Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioners and lead a new independent statutory authority.
Opening expressions of interest for the positions, Minister for Mental Health, Gabrielle Williams said the new roles responded to a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system.
“We’re searching for the best and brightest leaders to fill these four vital roles driving positive change across the mental health and wellbeing system,” Ms Williams said.
“This new Commission will be tasked with ensuring our new mental health and wellbeing system is one that improves everyone’s experience, driving system wide cultural change and leading the way to reduce stigma,” she said.
“The new Commission will report on performance, quality and safety, elevate leadership of people with lived experience, promote the role of families, carers and supporters, monitor the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations and have powers to initiate its own inquiries and provide advice to ministers,” she said.
Ms Williams said the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission would provide state-wide oversight of the mental health and wellbeing system and hold the Government to account for ensuring it improved people’s experiences and upheld the rights of people with lived experience and their families, carers and supporters.
She said a Chair Commissioner and three Commissioners roles were being created and, as part of the selection process, at least one of the positions would go to a person with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress, and one would go to someone who identified as a family member, carer or supporter.
The Minister said early recruitment of the Commissioners would support planning and consultation before the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act came into effect.
“The legislation contains new rights-based objectives and principles that will drive the highest possible standard of mental health and wellbeing care for Victorians,” she said.
