Morwell’s Latrobe Community Health Service is one of several providers across the state which will deliver a new program supporting the mental health of people in the justice system from October.
The program will provide support for people on parole or community corrections orders with mental health treatment as part of their parole or order.
LCHS executive director of primary health Rachel Strauss said Morwell was chosen to deliver Gippsland’s program because of the higher number of people going into the courts, but also because of the “really good outcomes for clients” in the area.
The community health service will work closely with Corrections Victoria, general practitioners, Aboriginal-controlled health agencies and other community health services.
Ms Strauss said the program was designed to help reduce the risk of people in the justice system reoffending in the future by bringing service groups together to give people the support they needed.
“We know that in the criminal justice system these people are more likely to have mental illness,” Ms Strauss said.
“It’s really based on looking at our court systems and the knowledge we’ve got of people that are on corrections orders – they find it really difficult to link into services,” Ms Strauss said.
Ms Strauss said clients would be assessed for their individual needs and psychologists would work with clients around their plans for their health needs and linking clients with appropriate services.
These services, for example, may provide support for gambling, drug or alcohol addiction.
The Morwell-based community health service will work in partnership with Aboriginal-controlled health agencies Ramahyuck and Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association to offer culturally-appropriate support.
The program is in the planning phase and Ms Strauss said LCHS would employ five people by October this year on an ongoing basis to deliver the program, including a psychologist, social workers, forensic nurse and administration staff.
