News

Community invited to inspect new Mildura mental health unit

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:31:00

The community is being offered the chance to look inside Mildura’s new four-million-dollar mental health Prevention and Recovery Care unit this weekend, ahead of the PARC receiving its first clients next week.

The PARC, in Boyden Street, is being funded with a $4.3 million investment from the Victorian Government as part of its 10-Year Mental Health Plan. It has been developed by Mildura Base Hospital and will be operated in partnership with Mildura Base Hospital and leading not-for-profit provider, Wellways.
A community open day on Saturday will provide neighbors and community members the chance to see inside the state-of-the-art facility and find out more about important new treatment options it provides.
Currently most people requiring mental health services are treated within the community, with MBH also providing in-patient services for acute mental health issues. 
The PARC will make “step up-step down” services available to Mildura clients for the first time.
Mildura Base Hospital’s director of mental health, David Kirby, said the PARC will provide 24-hour residential care for short and mid-term stays.
“The goal, always, is to support people to get back home and back into their community,” Mr Kirby said.
“PARC offers a recovery program that is very individualised and person-focussed, so it’s about involving families and planning the recovery process with the client,” he said.
Five beds at the unit will be for short-stay clients for up to 28 days, and five mid-term stay beds are for people needing up to six months of clinical support, stabilisation and recovery.
The operator, Wellways, already runs four PARC Units across Victoria.
Wellways General Manager Mental Health Services in Victoria Sean Hegarty said the 10 Mildura staff have been doing training and orientation at the site since mid-January.
“Wellways provides day-to-day residential support, which includes developing confidence and independence with daily living skills,” Mr Hegarty said.
“Our work is all about helping people return to their everyday lives and this new building is an ideal setting for this,” he said.
“We are looking forward to providing the latest specialised mental health care in a culturally sensitive environment; one that feels more comfortable and conducive to recovery.
“It is closer to home for many people, which means family can be close by, and this also supports people in their recovery.”
Mr Kirby said the Boyden Street neighbourhood was very supportive of the project and he thanked them for their patience during more than a year of construction works.
“We’re grateful for the consideration the local neighbourhood has shown and their understanding of what an important step forward this is for local treatment options in Mildura,” he said.
“Saturday is a great opportunity for community members to come along and have a look around at what a fantastic facility this is for our community.”
The open day will be held at the PARC facility in Boyden Street, on Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.