Local Mental Health and Wellbeing

The mental health services in Maribyrnong are struggling to keep up with demand and have limited capacity to respond quickly. The system is both complex and difficult to navigate, especially for young people seeking help.

Council is advocating to the State and Federal Governments to ensure all Maribyrnong residents, including those in hard-to-reach and diverse communities, have support when they need it most.

Council acknowledges the State Government’s response to the Mental Health Royal Commission and the establishment of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services across the state, including in Maribyrnong.

However, gaps in ongoing mental health prevention and treatment continue to widen, adding further strain on our rapidly growing population. The risk is poorer mental health outcomes and barriers to accessing services.

Urgent and coordinated action is needed to avoid entrenching disadvantage and missing a critical opportunity to build a healthier, more resilient future for our young people.

Why this matters

• Without accessible, responsive mental health care, people are at greater risk of experiencing long-term harm.
• Poor mental health outcomes are often compounded by experiences of exclusion, discrimination, and stigma, particularly among youth, hard-to-reach, diverse and LGBTIQA+ communities and people facing addiction or housing stress.
• In a rapidly growing and diverse community like Maribyrnong, these gaps are widening, placing even more pressure on families, schools, frontline services, and overall community resilience.
• Urgent and coordinated action is needed to avoid entrenching disadvantage and missing a critical opportunity to build a healthier, more resilient future for our young people.

Our Asks

Fill the well-recognised gap in mental health services in Maribyrnong 

Council seeks a commitment from the State Government to implement community-based solutions, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system. This includes locally available multidisciplinary teams providing both clinical and non-clinical support.

This approach seeks to fill the ‘missing middle’ gap by ensuring that people can access care early, locally, and in a coordinated manner.

Fund a youth mental health outreach trial hosted by Maribyrnong City Council

Council seeks State or Federal Government support to fund a trial to collaborate with a specialist youth mental health service to run an outreach service at a Maribyrnong City Council facility.

Mental Health and Wellbeing forum to develop a plan for services in Melbourne’s West

Council calls for the State and Federal Government to establish a regional forum with community leaders, services, partners and all levels of government to develop a targeted plan for mental health and wellbeing in Melbourne’s west.

A place-based approach will ensure that investment is equitable, culturally responsive and tailored to local needs.