The opening of a new 52 bed acute mental health facility at Western Health’s Sunshine Hospital on October 19, marks a pivotal milestone in mental health and wellbeing care for Melbourne’s west.
The Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre will help alleviate pressure on emergency departments while offering critical treatment, care and support to individuals in need, ensuring they receive their treatment and recovery within a contemporary, purpose built, and high-quality environment.
Clinical operations commenced at the facility on October 19, with a seamless transition of mental health consumers from the existing adult acute inpatient unit at Sunshine Hospital, and the admission of new mental health consumers to the facility.
The establishment of the Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre was in direct response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System in 2021, and aims to provide a more accessible, responsive, and well-equipped mental health service in Victoria.
Western Health mental health and wellbeing services general manager Paula Stephenson said the centre has been co-designed with its consumers at the front of mind.
“The centre is designed to promote safety and collaboration with consumers and carers, while ensuring that members of the clinical and non-clinical team have an environment to best meet the needs of our consumers and their families,” she said.
