Two Greek Australians will be amongst the board members of Australia’s first Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing to be established in Victoria.
Public Policy Fellow at The University of Melbourne Maria Katsonis has been announced as Deputy Chair of the Centre, and non-Executive Director for non-profit Community Housing Ltd Fionn Skiotis was selected as one of the Board Members.
Chaired by Terry Laidler, the Board is expected to start its works in September 2022 and includes board members Phong Nguyen, Sheree Lowe, Lisa Brophy, Steve Moylan, Gerard Naughtin, Gill Callister and Amelia Walters.
The formation of the Centre is one of the 65 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System that delivered its final report in February 2021.
Board members have been invited to offer insights drawing from professional expertise and insights from lived experience.
An outspoken mental health advocate, Maria Katsonis is also featured among those who submitted their personal stories to the Royal Commission.
“Policies and programs on their own are not enough. They need to be championed at senior levels. It’s also essential to include the voice of lived experience in the workplace—in policy development, program delivery or other mental health decision making forums. As we say in the lived experience community: nothing about us without us,” says Katsonis in an excerpt of her interview with the Commission.
The Victorian government has announced a total of $5 million towards the establishment of the Centre, as part of an allocation of $1.3 billion in this year’s budget ear-marked for mental health.
“The centre will be at the heart of a rejuvenated mental health system and its board brings outstanding skills, knowledge, diversity and lived experience to help guide these critical reforms that will change lives and save lives,” said Victoria’s Minister for Mental Health, Gabrielle Williams.
The Collaborative Centre will operate in Melbourne as a dedicated hub bringing together researchers, health professionals and people with lived experience to guide mental health reform
Beyond research and policy-making it will also provide treatment, care and support to adults, while establishing health and academic partnerships with the Centre will be among the board’s priorities.
