Health and Community Services Union
| Press Release: HACSU Welcomes 8 New Mental Health Beds for Geelong |
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The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), which represents the professional and industrial interests of the Mental Health workforce, was relived to see an additional 8 bed allocated to Geelong’s Swanston Centre in the 2009 State Budget. Frustrated with Geelong’s status as having the lowest distribution of mental health beds in the state, HACSU members have been lobbying for more funding for at least two years.“At the moment, Geelong only has 20 mental health beds, this equates to just 12 beds for every 100,000 people – the state’s lowest,” said HACSU State Secretary Lloyd Williams. “8 additional beds will improve this ratio so that Geelong can catch up with the rest of the state.” In 2007 HACSU members took industrial action to highlight Geelong’s overwhelming need for more Mental Health beds which was leading to an unacceptable level of serious injuries to staff and ongoing service failures. “The State Budget also delivers a range of other improvements to Mental Health Services including up to 280 new jobs in the sector and $6.6 million for the development of the mental health workforce development and innovation institute. This will ensure robust improvements to mental health services and go someway towards addressing the workforce supply issues that the sector is currently experiencing,” said Mr Williams. “This budget will mean better care is available to Victorians experiencing Mental Health issues. We recognise the Minister, Lisa Neville’s commitment to this area of her portfolio, and the improvements for Geelong’s Mental Health Services” said Mr Williams. |