By Tanya Steele
Healesville Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) hosted an informative and vital talk on mental health on Tuesday 19 March, which was well received.
Guest speakers Ali Pain from the Mental Health Complaints Commission and Maggie Toko a former assistant commissioner were on hand for the community conversation and luncheon to discuss and those in attendance about mental health and changes coming into the mental health system.
The event had a good turnout with consumers, mental health providers and the general public in attendance.
Ms Toko enjoyed coming out to Healesville for the day and sharing space with the community.
“It’s always lovely to meet people from different communities in Victoria and hear about people’s lived and living experiences, with the expansion of mental health services for regional areas I hope this will ensure more people can get the support they need,” she said.
Shona Rimmer, the Community Development Coordinator at HLLC found the personal side of Ms Toko’s discussion very valuable.
“Maggie talking about her own lived experience and what she is able to do while managing her own mental health is inspirational,” Ms Rimmer said.
Ali Pain took attendees through the current processes and the changes coming in under the new mental health act.
Ms Rimmer said it was presented very well and helped attendees understand the changes coming into play.
Victoria’s new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 passed through parliament in September and supports the establishment of new roles and entities.
This included a new mental health and wellbeing commission, regional mental health and wellbeing boards, youth mental health and wellbeing Victoria and a new Chief Officer for mental health and wellbeing.
Ms Toko will be commencing the role of the commissioner in September this year for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, along with two other commissioners and a chairperson.
The commission will monitor the mental health system in the state, with the aim to maintain a high quality and safe system for all Victorians.
Attendee Kath Gunnaway found the session interesting and said it was a valuable opportunity for people in the mental health sector to talk to Ms Toko.
“She is so direct and down to earth,” she said.
Ms Toko said the Royal Commission made it clear that lived experience needs to be at the heart of what they do as they work to reform the mental health system.
“For me, it means bringing my whole self to work so I can be authentic in the work that I do, but also to raise the voices of others with lived and living experiences so we can build a better system for everybody,” she said.
