In response to the advice, Professor Patrick McGorry, executive director of Orygen stated: “I would like to thank Health Minister Greg Hunt and the Secretary of the Department of Health, Glenys Beauchamp, for their leadership in establishing the Deloitte review, which independently examined the original process, and for requesting the NWMPHN immediately commence the recommissioning of headspace Melton.”
Based in Melbourne’s north-west, Orygen is Australia’s world-leading innovator in youth mental health care and applied research, and has led the design of youth mental health services nationally and globally for the past two decades. Orygen, with the support of key partners, designed and scaled up headspace nationally from 2006. Since 2006, Orygen has operated headspace centres across Melbourne’s north-west, and currently operates four such centres, integrating them closely with Orygen state-funded youth mental health services to offer a unique system of care. Orygen’s existing four headspace centres have for years been among the highest performing centres nationally, as independently assessed by headspace’s national office team.
For several years, Orygen has supported local advocacy for Melton, as one of the major growth corridors in Melbourne, to be allocated a headspace centre. Orygen’s management and board were therefore delighted when the Australian Government announced that a headspace centre was to be located in Melton.
In November 2017 a consortium led by Orygen tendered to establish and operate headspace Melton as the missing piece within an integrated system of youth mental health care in north-west Melbourne. Orygen was not awarded the tender.
“The independent forensic review, which was undertaken by Deloitte, was commissioned by the Australian Department of Health in May 2018, and has recently produced a final report,” Professor McGorry said. “Although we currently are unable to comment on the specific issues identified in the review, which have not yet been released, the Minister and the Department made a decision that headspace Melton must be recommissioned.
“Orygen will now be seeking clarification from the Department of Health and the NWMPHN regarding the recommissioning arrangements. We look forward to the full release of the findings of the Deloitte report.”