Mind Australia is calling on all parties and candidates contesting the 2026 Victorian State Election to commit to urgent and sustained investment in mental health to improve outcomes for people across the state.
Our Victorian Election Platform identifies five priority areas that can drive meaningful change over the next four years for people, families and carers and communities:
- Expand Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in priority areas ($161m)
- Provide specialist support for mental health supported housing ($64m)
- Increase youth mental health housing ($12m)
- Improve outcomes through strengthening and empowering Lived Experience ($20m)
- Increase the efficiency of government-commissioned mental health services (saving an estimated 2% across shorter-term contracts).
Expand Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in priority areas
Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals were established as a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System. They provide free treatment, care and support to people aged 26 and over experiencing mental health or wellbeing challenges.
To build on this progress, Victoria needs a consistent, statewide model that is integrated with existing supports and responds to communities with the greatest need.
Mind is calling for seven additional Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals. New Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals should be established in areas with significant service gaps, based on population and location, including Swan Hill and Warrnambool.
Meanwhile, existing Head to Health clinics in Ballarat, Warragul, Wodonga, Hawthorn and Berwick/Officer would be transitioned into Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals.
The next Victorian Government should also confirm ongoing funding beyond 2027 for the 'Tranche 3 Locals' in Cardinia, Darebin, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Port Philip, Wyndham and Mount Alexander.
Provide specialist support for mental health supported housing
A secure home with the right supports provides a foundation for recovery and participation in community life, education and employment. It can also reduce pressure on the state's support systems.
The Royal Commission recommended 2,000 Big Housing Build homes with support for people living with mental health challenges. So far, just 509 of these homes have been commissioned.
Without integrated supports, many people living in these homes may not get the help they need, putting their wellbeing and tenancies at risk.
Mind is calling for a statewide specialist support program for people living in commissioned Big Housing Build mental health supported housing. We're calling for $64 million over four years to support at least 800 people each year, with community-based psychosocial supports, specialist tenancy sustainment supports and rapid-response supports for if and when needs escalate.
Increase youth mental health housing
Stable housing is closely linked to good mental health. The Royal Commission recommended 500 new medium-term supported housing places for young people aged 18 to 25 experiencing mental health challenges, unstable housing or homelessness.
Mind is calling for a pilot program that provides integrated, multidisciplinary and tailored mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support in residential and community settings.
The model would support young people aged 16 to 24 to build skills and independence, with access to specialist mental health practitioners and the peer support of other residents at the site.
Improve outcomes through strengthening and empowering Lived Experience
The Royal Commission called for shared power and structural lived experience leadership at the highest levels of governance. This is essential to ensure the mental health system is designed, implemented and monitored with the perspectives of people who use and are affected by it.
We believe Lived and Living Experience leadership must be visible, influential, embedded in decision-making and properly resourced across Victoria's mental health system, including government agencies and commissioned services.
Greater transparency can support more meaningful Lived Experience leadership and better outcomes for people using services.
Mind is calling for a new innovation fund over four years. The fund would support services to develop and test alternative, lived experience-led approaches to mental health distress and crisis support, while building the evidence base for these approaches.
We're also asking for the next government to invest in Lived Experience leadership and to direct the Mental Health Commission to report to Parliament on the Victorian mental health sector's approach to lived experience.
Increase the efficiency of government-commissioned mental health services
Uncertain funding cycles for effective programs create instability for people using services and the organisation delivering them. Short-term funding can interrupt support, increase administrative costs and make it harder to retain and develop the workforce.
Mind has seen the impact of this through programs including LGBTIQA+ Aftercare and Youth Outreach Recovery Support (YORS).
Victoria needs to move away from year-by-year extensions and develop a clearer and more consistent approach to defining success. This would support transitioning pilot program funding into longer-term investment, in turn creating greater stability, support innovation and improve outcomes for people using services. It would also provide better opportunities for workforce development and greater job security.
Mind is calling for the next Victorian Government to publish a strategy that:
- Sets out a clear pathway for programs that meet or exceed their targets to move from pilot funding to longer-term funding.
- Establishes a minimum five-year funding period for programs that meet or exceed their targets.
Victoria has made important progress in transforming its mental health system. The next four years are an opportunity to build on that progress and ensure people across the state can access the right support, when and where they need it.