increased community managed mental health funding a positive first step

cohealth, one of Victoria’s leading community health providers, has today welcomed Minister Foley’s announcement of an additional $50 million in funding for community-based psychosocial support services as an important first step in repairing Victoria’s mental health system.

Victoria’s community mental health services have long been the envy of other States and Territories, delivering psychosocial support and rehabilitation programs that enable those experiencing mental health difficulties to become and stay well. However the loss of many of these services in recent years as funding has transitioned into the NDIS has led to heartbreaking stories from former clients of declining mental health and increased pressure on their family and carers.

cohealth welcomes establishment of community health expert taskforce

cohealth, one of Victoria’s leading community health providers, has today expressed profound dismay at the Andrews Government’s failure to provide any investment into community managed mental health services, with the now comprehensive loss of psychosocial support and rehabilitation programs certain to hurt individuals, families and communities across the State.

cohealth’s Chief Executive, Lyn Morgain, said that “the 2018 Budget represented a critical moment for the future of mental health service delivery in Victoria. Consumers, service providers, and advocates, have loudly and at length urged the Government to invest the necessary money to save the State’s existing community mental health services, and restore those that have already been lost. With no new funding provided for community mental health, more services will be lost, and more people will suffer.”

significantly increased mental health investment welcome, but misdirected

cohealth, one of Victoria’s leading community health providers, has today expressed profound dismay at the Andrews Government’s failure to provide any investment into community managed mental health services, with the now comprehensive loss of psychosocial support and rehabilitation programs certain to hurt individuals, families and communities across the State.

cohealth’s Chief Executive, Lyn Morgain, said that “the 2018 Budget represented a critical moment for the future of mental health service delivery in Victoria. Consumers, service providers, and advocates, have loudly and at length urged the Government to invest the necessary money to save the State’s existing community mental health services, and restore those that have already been lost. With no new funding provided for community mental health, more services will be lost, and more people will suffer.”

farewell and thanks to inaugural cohealth Chair, Kay Rundle

Following almost five years of careful stewardship and experienced counsel, which included oversight of the successful merger of three community health organisations to form cohealth, the inaugural cohealth Chair, and Board Director, Kay Rundle is to step down on 3 May 2018.

Yes! cohealth welcomes positive result of marriage equality survey – now it’s time to deliver legal equality for LGBTIQ families

The result shows that Australians overwhelmingly support marriage equality. It is now incumbent on our Parliamentarians to reflect the views of the community. We call on the Parliament to move without delay to amend the Marriage Act to enshrine marriage equality in law, and to do so without creating any new forms of discrimination.

cohealth calls on government to evacuate men on Manus

ohealth is deeply concerned about the health & welfare of the refugees and asylum seeker men on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.

Given the escalating crisis situation on Manus Island, cohealth supports the calls from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for assurances that the health and wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers will be protected by the Australian government.

Supervised injecting centre is welcome first step to reduce drug related harm in Victoria

cohealth, provider of community health and support services in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, has welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to trial a medically supervised injecting centre in Richmond, as a critical first step in reducing drug related harms.

“We have evidence from more than 100 medically supervised injecting centres across the world which shows that not only have thousands of lives been saved, but that engagement with these kinds of services provides an opportunity for people using drugs to access medical help, ongoing support, and referral to counselling and treatment,” said cohealth Chief Executive, Lyn Morgain.

cohealth awarded Victoria’s top healthcare award – Premier’s Primary Healthcare Service of the Year

cohealth, not-for-profit provider of community-based health and support services in Melbourne and surrounds, has had its significant contribution to Victorian’s health formally recognised last night at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, being awarded the Premier’s Primary Healthcare Service of the Year.

cohealth Chief Executive Lyn Morgain received the award on behalf of cohealth’s 900+ staff and 200 volunteers, saying the award is testament to their dedication and commitment to cohealth’s vision creating healthy people and healthy communities.

cohealth urges medically supervised injecting centre trial

cohealth is among 43 leading health, community, specialist and AOD organisations and prominent individuals that have signed a statement supporting the trial of a Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Victoria.

“If we truly believe that all members of our community have a right to a dignified and healthy life, then it makes little sense to punish them for making a mistake,” said cohealth chief executive, Lyn Morgain.

Marriage equality survey creates health risks for LGBTIQ community

Twenty three metropolitan and regional community health organisations from across the length and breadth of Victoria have today issued a joint statement in support of marriage equality.

Our Shared Humanity – A moving exhibition of creative works by refugees and people seeking asylum

Refugee Week event: Our Shared Humanity

A moving exhibition of creative works by refugees and people seeking asylum.

State budget 2017 sees welcome investment in mental health

cohealth Chief Executive, Lyn Morgain, is delighted to see a strong funding commitment to mental health and specifically community mental health. People with complex mental health needs require support from a range of services, and community mental health services enable support to be provided where they live. Community mental health support provides an essential supplement to clinical services provided by hospitals, and cohealth is pleased that the importance of community services has been recognised by the Government.