Statewide approaches to mental health is a shared priority of the six Victorian Primary Health Networks, an Australian Government Initiative and the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services. Parties have committed to implement a shared program of work to focus on the integration of mental health services across the system, with a focus on: provision of high quality and earlier mental health care; ensuring clear care pathways; building capacity of primary care providers; mapping clear mental health referral pathways across PHN regions, and increasing linkage with social support services, including alcohol and other drug services. As part of this collaboration it has been agreed to appoint a shared role to support robust and outcome based mental health planning and service responses across Victoria.
The Senior Lead, Mental Health Integration is a new role responsible for designing and oversight for the implementation of collective PHN and departmental arrangements in support of coordinated planning and integration of mental health services across the system.