April 2008

Community care units expanded for Melbourne’s east

Victoria’s first Community Care Units (CCU) for people with a mental illness have been refurbished and doubled in size in a $6.4 million Government project.

Officially opening the Canterbury Road Community Care Units in Camberwell, Minister for Mental Health Lisa Neville said their capacity had now been doubled to 20 beds, which would provide longer-term accommodation for about 30 patients per year.

‘Community care units play an important role in helping people recover from a mental illness and preparing them for a return to the community.

‘The Canterbury Road CCU has special significance in Victoria’s mental health history as the first CCU established in 1989 after mental health services were mainstreamed.

‘Community care units still play a key role in Victoria’s mental health system.

‘The refurbishment of the Canterbury Road CCU has brought together the heritage charm of the old with the functional advantages of the new to provide an expanded and better service to people with a mental illness.’

The refurbished centre has nine single rooms on the ground floor, while the first floor has seven single semi-self-contained units that replicate independent living, plus two two-bedroom self-contained units.

There are also two single-bed semi self-contained units that make up the assessment unit.

The units will service clients of the Central East area mental health service, including the local government areas of Manningham and Monash.

‘The community care units are for clients who have a severe or longer term mental illness or who need a period of residential monitoring while their treatment is adjusted,’ Ms Neville said.

‘They play an important role in helping clients to understand and manage their mental illness.

‘Another key role is to connect residents of the CCU with support services such as psychosocial activities, health agencies and other community services.

‘A period of residence in a CCU also helps clients practise daily living and social skills to help prepare them to live with greater independence.’