Recommendation 02

What the Royal Commission said

This recommendation calls for a dedicated Wellbeing Promotion Office and a State Wellbeing Promotion Adviser. The Wellbeing Promotion Office will:

• deliver economic and social benefits of good mental wellbeing across the population
• use public health principles
• promote human rights
• reduce inequities in outcomes.

What are the opportunities?

Good wellbeing contributes to better relationships, better physical health, greater productivity, longer life expectancy and connected communities.

The Wellbeing Promotion Office will promote good mental wellbeing in the places where we live, learn, work and play and in the mental health system.

We do this by making sure these spaces are safe, inclusive and welcoming for everyone. We lead, activate and work in partnership, striving for all Victorians to have the best possible mental wellbeing.

The Wellbeing Promotion Office will help shift the focus of the mental health and wellbeing system towards the prevention of mental distress and the promotion of wellbeing. It will improve accountability, coordination and planning of activities by working across government, sectors and communities.

What are we doing?

The Wellbeing Promotion Office was established in 2022. It is supported by an expert advisory committee.

Key priorities include:

1. Victoria’s first Wellbeing Strategy to promote good mental health for everyone in Victoria wherever we live, work, learn and play.
2. Social Inclusion Action Groups, a flagship prevention initiative to drive social connection and inclusion in local communities.
3. Local Connections – a social prescribing initiative to support people to participate in community-based activities, such as art, nature or other groups and activities to reduce loneliness and social isolation.