Mental Health Branch

Director: Paul Smith

The public mental health service system consists of clinical services and psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services (PDRSS). Provided on an area basis, clinical mental health services are managed by public hospitals and provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and clinical case management to people with a serious mental illness, across a range of inpatient, residential and other community-based services.

Psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services are provided by non-government community organisations.

The service system also includes other specialist and statewide services which offer an additional level of expertise or service response for people with particular clinical conditions or high level needs, such as the forensic psychiatry services at the secure Thomas Embling Hospital.

The Mental Health Branch operates in partnership with health service providers to monitor and develop the service system, and sets future directions to meet demand with quality, innovative services. Through the Chief Psychiatrist, the Branch is also responsible for the welfare of people receiving treatment for a mental illness and monitoring and improving their quality of care.

Victoria is at the forefront of mental health service provision and policy and plays a key role in working with the Commonwealth on the implementation of the National Action Plan on Mental Health that remains high on the COAG agenda.

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