More mental health support for more Victorians
More than 200,000 additional psychiatry appointments will be available every year under a Liberal and Nationals plan to better-support Victorians’ mental health.
Part of the Liberal and Nationals Mental Health Workforce Strategy, the funding will allow the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) to boost Victoria’s psychiatry workforce and begin to address Victoria’s growing mental health crisis with 168 new trainee positions.
This includes 120 new trainee psychiatry positions and 48 additional child and adolescent psychiatry training positions in Victoria’s health system.
Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Emma Kealy, said the RANZCP and Victorians needing mental health support had been let down by the Labor Government.
“The Andrews Labor Government failed to fund new psychiatry positions during the pandemic, despite calls from peak bodies,” Ms Kealy said.
“This has cost struggling Victorians more than 65,000 hours of mental health support every single year of the pandemic.
“And despite the continued calls, Labor still has no plan to rebuild Victoria’s mental health workforce.”
The Liberals and Nationals’ Mental Health Workforce Strategy will deliver more support to more Victorians.
Under the strategy, an additional 2 million mental health appointments will be available every year and an additional 2000 mental health practitioners will be unlocked to deliver mental health support in our schools.
“This is key investment needed to rebuild Victoria’s mental health system, and help more Victorians access mental health support when they need it, not when they get to the top of a waitlist,” Ms Kealy said.
“And only an elected Liberal and Nationals Government will fund more psychiatry and psychology positions, because we know that it’s a strong workforce that will ensure Victorians have the mental health support they need.”