Ballarat Health Services’ mental health unit will be the recipient of a major funding boost through the state government’s facilities renewal grants scheme.
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Mental Health Minister Martin Foley visited the Sturt Street facility on Wednesday to announce the $410,000 in funding which will go towards upgrading facilities throughout the Queen Victoria Building.
Mr Foley said upgrades to the facilities would play a crucial role in not only the successful rehabilitation of patients, but also the safety of staff members.
“(The funding’s goal is) to make sure there are modern, safe, really good facilities to make sure that the one in five of us who experience mental health challenges over the course of our life have the best chance to get better,” Mr Foley said. “Safety is the first step to recovery and we need to make sure these facilities are encouraging recovery.”
The funding comes as part of a $2.8 million spending spree across 26 regional Victorian mental health and drug and alcohol facilities.
A further $126,000 was announced for BHS to bolster its consultant liaison psychiatric service, which provides mental health assistance to patients admitted to general wards, one of eight services across the state sharing in $1.28 million of funding.
BHS chief executive Dale Fraser said the continued investment and improvement of facilities was important for breaking down preconceptions around mental health care.
“The provision of things such as additional waiting spaces to provide safe, secure locations for patients waiting treatment is a basic requirement and we’re delighted to have this funding,” Mr Fraser said.
“We have an ongoing and enduring challenge to break down the stigma of mental health treatment and we provide safe and effective care to people with ongoing mental health concerns.”
The government will begin implementing the funding immediately,
