Who we are
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) is a new independent statutory entity established under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act, 2022.
The MHWC promotes, supports and protects the rights of consumers, families, carers and supporters.
The MHWC is led by Chair Commissioner Treasure Jennings, and three other Commissioners – Annabel Brebner, Jacqueline Gibson and Kathleen Maggie Toko.
Read more about the Commissioners.
What powers do we have
As an independent body, the MHWC has the powers necessary to perform its functions under the Act, including to deal with complaints, initiate investigations, conduct inquiries, share data, report on the performance, quality and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system, and make recommendations to the Premier, Minister and heads of public service bodies.
More information about the Act.
What we do
Under the Act, the MHWC has the following functions and powers:
- Promote the improvement, awareness and understanding of mental health and wellbeing across government, business and the wider community.
- Elevate lived experience leadership, and support effective participation of people with lived experience in decision making processes.
- Design and deliver initiatives that create awareness of people with lived experience and their unique experiences, including to promote the role of families, carers and supporters of persons living with mental illness or psychological distress.
- Lead and support initiatives to prevent and address stigma related to mental illness.
- Monitor and report on the performance, quality and safety of the mental health and wellbeing system.
- Report on the use of restrictive interventions in mental health and wellbeing services.
- Monitor and report on progress to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the Victorian community, the progress of implementation of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system and other matters relating to its functions.
- Receive complaints by consumers and carers on their experience in accessing mental health and wellbeing services and endeavour to resolve complaints in a timely manner.
- Promote effective complaint handling by mental health and wellbeing service providers.
- Make recommendations to the Premier, Minister and heads of public service bodies.
- Promote and support compliance with the Act and report significant breaches of the Act to the Health Secretary.
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