Premier opens mental health centre

A NEW acute mental health centre in North Geelong has begun welcoming its first patients.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams toured the 16-bed McKellar Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre just before they officially opened it on Thursday last week.

Built on a greenfields site at the rear of Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre over the space of 18 months, the facility includes inpatient acute mental health services and community-based care.

The contemporary, safe and high-quality hospital setting has been designed to ease pressure on University Hospital Geelong’s emergency department and is expected to support at least 350 patients each year – equivalent to about 6,000 hours of extra care – as well as many hundreds more that will use its outpatient services and day programs.

“This is about making sure we have the best physical environment, the best space that’s safe and welcoming and inviting and it’s about the care that’s given in the space, but the space itself is about care and theraputic outcomes, and people being well, and people being better,” Mr Andrews said.

“These are not just extra beds, they are a different way of doing things, and that’s exactly what the Royal Commission called us to do.”

Mr Andrews said the centre was fully staffed.

“There won’t necessarily be 16 patients on day one, but it’ll build over time.”

Barwon Health clinical director of mental health, drugs and alcohol services Professor Steve Moylan led the tour of the centre, which was designed in consultation with people who have lived experience of the mental health system, including consumers, carers and staff.

“There’s been a lot of work that has been put in by a lot of people,” Prof. Moylan said.

“It’s incredibly proud for us as a health service to open the first new mental health beds that are stemming from the Victorian government’s significant commitment to the implementation of all the recommendations of the Royal Commission.”

He said buildings such as the McKellar Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre served more than one purpose.

“On Monday (September 12), we’re going to have the opportunity to welcome the first consumers and their families to a fantastic centre, and that’s brilliant for them and for our community.

“But secondly, buildings like this serve as a symbol of what is actually possible if you really lean into the problem of how we can improve mental health services across our community.

“And for us, it gives us a toolkit that we can use to not only think that we can do better, but really actually do better.”

Geelong MP Christine Couzens, South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, Lara MP John Eren, Labor candidate for Lara Ella George and Labor candidate for Bellarine Alison Marchant were also at the opening.