Mental Health Reform

Queensland and New South Wales

In early 2024, Wellways was announced as the lead of four new Medicare Mental Health Centre locations in Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Gladstone, and Bundaberg, and as a partner for equivalent services in Dubbo and Bathurst. The growth linked to this announcement marks the first time Wellways has been given the opportunity to provide these federally funded services in Queensland and New South Wales that are in the spirit of national mental health reform.

Victoria

In Victoria, we have opened all six Wellways-led Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals that were codesigned and are already pivotal in transforming mental health services in the State.

Wellways leads six Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in Victoria.

A group of people pose for a photo in front of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.

The Benalla Mental Health and Wellbeing Local opens it’s doors.

In line with our efforts to be at the forefront of reform, we have also opened Mental Health Wellbeing Connect Centres in Gippsland and Western Victoria to provide vital support services to mental health carers, kin and supporters.

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While the Victorian Government did not announce any funding for further Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in its 2024/25 budget, it did stress that new funding will become available to grow the mental health workforce through additional graduate programs, which aligns with our goal for Wellways to become a trusted and successful work experience partner for education providers in the mental health sector.

In 2024, we did see our first round of Earn and Learn trainees and second round of Lived Experience Peer Cadets graduate with a Diploma or Certificate IV in Mental Health (Peer Work), and we also experienced an unprecedented interest in the 2024/25 round of applications.

Continue Exploring

Continue exploring more of the highlights from across the business in the 2023-24 Annual Review.

Overview

Over the past year, Wellways has embraced opportunities, formed new partnerships, and worked to become an even better service provider, more desirable employer, and louder advocate.

Annual Review 2023-24

Lived Experience

2024 marks the year lived experience was elevated to Board level at Wellways. Find out more about the sector-first Lived and Living Experience Authority from our two Co-Chairs.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is everyone's business at Wellways. We are proud to share that our Reconciliation Action Innovate Plan has been approved, and our Stretch RAP has been submitted.

People and Culture

Valuable feedback from Wellways employees highlights strong engagement and a deep connection to their work. Over the past twelve months, we have also completed some important training and become more inclusive.

Services

Our services are now available in more locations than ever before. We also lead new service models, such as the Medicare Mental Health Centres, and have significantly expanded our suicide prevention work.

Carer Gateway

Wellways has extended its Carer Services and explored new ways to connect with carers, while expanding and deepening our partnerships with other providers.

Finance

With new CFO David Gerrard at the helm of the finance team for his first full year, the budgeting process has been further improved across the organisation, and the financial auditing report has been made more transparent and accessible.