Victoria's mental health watchdog trims key systemic investigations after budget cuts

Internal records reveal that Victoria's Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, created in 2022 to monitor post-royal-commission reforms, has dramatically narrowed its investigative scope after a series of legislative changes and a reduced budget. In December 2025 the commission decided to drop seven systemic topics, including the rollout of dedicated youth beds, pay gaps for mental-health workers, and the use of restraints outside the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act.

It now concentrates on a short list of issues such as access to alcohol and drug services, chemical restraints, and misuse of hospital security codes, while other matters are placed on a watching brief or addressed only through brief responses. Staffing shortages in the complaints team have further limited its ability to meet performance benchmarks. New Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioner Jennifer Black, appointed by Health Minister Ingrid Stitt, says the body remains independent but will focus on complaints, system performance monitoring, and royal-commission recommendation reporting.