Making Mental Health Care Safer For Victorians

The Allan Labor Government is delivering safer, more modern mental health services – ensuring Victorians get the care and support they need, when and where they need it.

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt today announced that major upgrades have been completed at 16 Mental Health Intensive Care Areas across the state – including a $2.3 million redevelopment at Casey Hospital in Berwick.

Funded through the Victorian Budget 2022/23, the Labor Government invested $61.1 million to upgrade Mental Health Intensive Care Areas at 24 health services across Victoria – supporting young people, adults (including new parents) and older Victorians.

Mental Health Intensive Care Areas are specialised spaces within acute inpatient units that support people at increased risk. Upgrades undertaken range from private bathrooms, gender-separated areas and upgraded courtyards – ensuring these critical spaces are fit-for-purpose and recovery-focused.

These upgrades create safer, more private and therapeutic environments – ensuring Victorians receive care with dignity, supporting recovery and enhancing the safety of frontline healthcare workers.

At Casey Hospital, the $2.3 million upgrade includes new ensuite bathrooms in all bedrooms, additional lounge and courtyard spaces, a sensory room, improved staff visibility and a new kitchenette – all designed to create a safer and more supportive environment for consumers and staff.

The upgrades are a key part of delivering Recommendation 13(2) of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which called for improvements to support gender-based safety in high-dependency units.

The 16 completed Mental Health Intensive Care Areas projects include upgrades at Casey Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, Kingston Centre, Box Hill Hospital, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Broadmeadows Hospital, Northern Hospital, Footscray Hospital, Sunshine Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital, Bendigo Hospital, Maroondah Hospital and Wangaratta Hospital.

Upgrades at a further eight Mental Health Intensive Care Areas are underway.

Administered by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the Mental Health Intensive Care Area program is part of the Labor Government’s work to reform Victoria’s mental health system – ensuring people living with mental ill health, and their families and carers, are supported to live full and contributing lives.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt

“These important upgrades mean Victorians experiencing acute mental ill health will receive care in safer, more private and more therapeutic environments.”

“We’re delivering on the Royal Commission’s recommendations – building modern mental health services that treat people with dignity, support recovery and keep both consumers and staff safe.”