Benalla is one of six locations in Victoria that will take part in the initial rollout of the Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (which will be called Local Services).
The eventual plan is to have 60 locations around Victoria involved in the Local Services.
The aim of the Local Services is to provide an easy entry-point to the mental health and wellbeing system for people 26 years and older with aim to support people prevent, manage and recover from mental illness.
It is planned for the Local Services in Benalla Rural City to also provide for Rural City of Wangaratta and Mansfield Shire.
To aid in the rollout of the Local Services, the Department of Health delivered an online place-based forum to share the outcomes of the phase one engagement and the core components of the new service with Benalla residents as well as get feedback on how to make each Local Services relevant to the community they are serving.
The subsequent feedback results of the Benalla-based local forum highlighted community concern over a lack of coordination and distribution of services, transport access, growing demand for mental health services, and having a transient workforce.
Forum participants have demanded that any new services must be locally based, provide immediate and appropriate support that is relevant to the people of the area as well as ensure that those in rural areas of the Benalla community are reachable.
A key emphasis made was that any future services provided must ensure a personal approach and allow for individual relationships to form.
The Local Services initiative is a consequence of The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The other five locations will be Greater Geelong and the Borough of Queenscliffe, Latrobe Valley, City of Frankston, City of Brimbank and the City of Whittlesea.
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