Leading mental health organisation, Richmond Wellbeing, has been appointed as the operator of the new Bunbury community step up/step down service, and people will be able to start accessing the service later this month. People in the South-West will now have access to a new mental health service with the opening of the community step up/step down service in Glen Iris, Bunbury.
The 10-bed service will provide short-term, 24/7 residential support and individualised care for people following discharge from hospital, or help people avoid unnecessary hospitalisation in the future.
The McGowan Government has invested $12 million to provide this new service for people in the South-West region.
Approximately 44 local companies were engaged in the construction of the facility. This represents approximately 85 per cent of the project costs being invested in local service providers.
Community mental health step up step down services support people to continue their everyday life in the community, out-of-hospital and close to personal support from family and friends. Richmond Wellbeing will draw on its 45 years of experience, and its unwavering belief that people can and do recover from mental distress, to deliver a world-class recovery service.
The Bunbury service will join three other community step up step down services around the State and complement Richmond Wellbeing’s three existing services in the South West region. Richmond Wellbeing will also closely partner with Cyrenian House, a well established specialised alcohol and other drug service provider.
Richmond Wellbeing Chair Vicky Taylor said:
“Services such as this are seen by Richmond Wellbeing as core business. This is central to who we are as an organisation and the way that we use our skills and expertise to support individuals who experience mental distress, and their family. And as always, the voice of lived experience is our guide.
“Richmond Wellbeing has over 30 staff in the South West, but we know that one service provider alone will never respond sufficiently to the holistic needs of the community.
“We believe that through services such as step up step down we can make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of so many people.
“We look forward to building upon our long-standing working relationship with the South West clinical mental health services as we work together to provide the best support for the clients that we are supporting.”
Premier Mark McGowan said:
“Community mental health step up/step down services provide a vital service – to help people manage their mental health in the community, providing them with the opportunity to recover faster and avoid unnecessary stays in hospitals.
“The establishment of this service will give people living in the South-West another option for mental health treatment and support – it will provide 24/7 support, in their community, close to family and friends.
“We know that people recover better when they have their personal networks close by.”
As stated by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
“Mental health and wellbeing should be a priority for everyone – we are doing our bit to help people address issues early and have the support they need.
“The service operator, Richmond Wellbeing, and its many partner organisations in the region will be working to deliver wrap-around, holistic, community-based services to people in need.
“There is much more to do, to ensure that our State is the healthiest it can be, and so we can prevent, support and treat mental health issues – appropriately and with the utmost dignity.”
As stated by Bunbury MLA Don Punch:
“The establishment of this service in the South-West will provide a new option for people experiencing mental health issues in this region.
“Putting people and their recovery first is at the core of effective mental health services and support.”
Media contact:
Vida Hustas
Richmond Wellbeing PR & Brand Manager
P: (08) 9350 8800 | M: 0498 267 070 | E: vida.hustas@rw.org.au
