Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System
The establishment of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (the Collaborative Centre) was a key recommendation (Recommendation 1 of the Interim Report) of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (the Royal Commission). The Collaborative Centre was designed to provide a robust, independent mechanism to oversee the delivery of reform and the performance of mental health services in Victoria.
What is the Collaborative Centre?
The Collaborative Centre was established to drive change in Victoria's mental health and wellbeing system, following the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System. Authorised under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (the Act), the Collaborative Centre is committed to ensuring that individuals receive the support they need when, where, and how they need it. The Collaborative Centre achieves this by:
What does the Collaborative Centre do?
With a strong focus on lived and living experience, the Collaborative Centre places the voices of individuals with direct experience of mental health challenges at the core of its work. It fosters inclusive leadership and prioritises collaboration, enabling services that are safe, effective, timely, and compassionate.
Through partnerships with individuals, service providers, researchers, and organisations with diverse expertise, the Collaborative Centre works to build a mental health system that is person-centred and evidence informed.
The Collaborative Centre takes an innovative approach to disseminating research to improve mental health outcomes. Its work is underpinned by a commitment to transparency, continuous learning, policy advocacy, and lived experience perspectives. By integrating lived experience with service provision and cutting-edge research, the Collaborative Centre aims to make mental health care more responsive, compassionate, and impactful.
Through its local, national, and global collaborations, the Collaborative Centre aspires to be a leader in mental health reform, driving meaningful and lasting change.
Collaborative Centre Board functions are as follows:
(a) to determine the strategic direction and priorities of the Collaborative Centre; and
(b) to establish a governance framework for the Collaborative Centre and to monitor the Collaborative Centre's compliance with that governance framework; and
(c) to prepare strategic plans and statements of priorities for the Collaborative Centre; and
(d) to advise the Minister and the Health Secretary of any significant decisions of the Collaborative Centre Board and any issues of public concern or risk that affect or may affect the Collaborative Centre; and
(e) to monitor the performance of the Collaborative Centre and the Director; and
(f) to determine, in consultation with the Health Secretary, priorities for research in the field of mental health and wellbeing; and
(g) to establish committees to assist or advise the Collaborative Centre Board in performing any of its functions; and
(h) to determine standards and indicators to assess the Directors (CEOs) performance of their duties.
Board appointments
Following changes to the Act in 2026, the new Board will consist of a minimum of five members including the Chairperson.
Individuals seeking appointment to the Board will undertake the process for appointment of Board members as set out in the Act.
Board members will be appointed by the Governor-in-Council upon the recommendation of the Minister for Mental Health.
Membership will be for terms ranging from two to three years, to ensure Board membership is staggered to maintain leadership continuity. Board members will be eligible for reappointment for up to a maximum of 9 consecutive years, consistent with the Act.
Anticipated time commitment
Board members are required to give an active commitment to the Collaborative Centre and be available to prepare for and attend meetings and respond to correspondence.
The time commitment of Board members is approximately one to two full days per month. The time commitment of the Chairperson is expected to be an additional two days per month.
Except for Board and committee meetings, much of this work can be undertaken flexibly. Meetings may be held in person or via videoconference at the discretion of the Chairperson and considering preferences and requirements of the members.
Meeting attendance
Board meetings are held monthly, and Board members are required to attend at least 75 per cent of Board meetings a year.