Importantly, the interim report highlights ‘themes’ such as poor investment, service access, dignity, stigma and discrimination, youth, carers, the complexity of mental illness, recovery, trauma and prevention – all of which must be addressed for real change to occur.
Bendigo Community Health Services is ready to use our experiences to support the design of a new mental health system and the delivery of those services.
We think it’s essential the people who bravely told their stories now get to play a role in the design of future services and facilities both to start healing the trauma of the past and to ensure any future mental health system delivers the effective change everyone so desperately wants to see.
We also acknowledge the willingness of the Andrews Government to address a systemic failure and be willing to generate reform across our regional communities and cities.
Gerard Jose
CEO, Bendigo Community Health Services