These analyses have been prepared by the Women’s Mental Health Alliance in response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, released in March 2021.
The Alliance welcomes the Royal Commission’s report and its vision for systemic reform. We believe that the reform process offers unprecedented opportunities to reorient the service system and build system capability to deliver a gender-responsive mental health system.
Many of the recommended reforms have the potential to significantly improve the mental health and wellbeing of women, girls and gender diverse people. However, unless the implementation of these reforms is gender-informed, the benefits for women, girls and gender diverse people will not be fully realised.
The Alliance has selected recommendations for analysis based on our areas of expertise and identification of reforms which have the greatest potential to improve the mental health of women and girls.
Each analysis takes a practical approach, analysing the recommendation’s strengths and gaps, before identifying key considerations for ensuring the recommendation is implemented in a way that responds to the needs of women, girls and gender diverse people.
Where appropriate, we have also included Alliance submissions relating to particular Royal Commission recommendations.
Recommendation 13: Addressing gender-based violence in mental health facilities
Recommendation 23: Establishing a Statewide Trauma Service
Read our submission on the Statewide Trauma Service EOI criteria
Recommendation 34: Working in partnership with and improving accessibility for diverse communities
Read our Position Paper on diverse communities' mental health
Recommendation 42: A new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act
Read our submission on the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act
Recommendation 54: Towards the elimination of seclusion and restraint
Recommendation 57: Workforce strategy, planning and structural reform, and Recommendation 58: Workforce capabilities and professional development
Women's Mental Health Alliance (2021) Gender analysis of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Women's Health Victoria. Melbourne.
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