cohealth welcomes Mental Health Locals funding but calls for more investment in preventative healthcare

Leading not-for-profit community health organisation cohealth is welcoming the Victorian Government’s investment in funding seven new Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in this week’s state budget, but says more needs to be done to support community-based health services that play an important role in keeping Victorians well. 

“After the rollout of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals was delayed in the last state budget, it’s encouraging to see the seven new locations included in this week’s announcement,” says Nicole Bartholomeusz, cohealth’s Chief Executive. 

“This is a great start,” Ms Bartholomeusz says, “but we also hope the state government will commit to funding the other Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals that remain in the pipeline.” 

Ms Bartholomeusz says further investment is still needed to stop people from getting sick. 

“This week’s budget announcement is another much-needed win for hospitals — but the healthcare system is so much more than that,” Ms Bartholomeusz says. 

“Investment in health promotion, prevention and early intervention programs reduces the incidence of preventable diseases, improves health literacy and self-management of health conditions, and ultimately decrease health care costs over time,” she says. 

cohealth is continuing to advocate for the Victorian Government to increase funding for health promotion, preventative and early intervention programs that keep people well. By addressing health issues early, people can live healthier lives, reducing the need for expensive hospital care. 

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more information: Adam Bennett 0424 147 230 adam.bennett@cohealth.org.au 

About cohealth: cohealth is a not-for-profit community health organisation that provides low-cost and free local health and support services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, aged care and counselling, and many specialist health services in Melbourne’s CBD, inner-north and inner-west, and the east coast of Tasmania.