Orygen welcomes the Victorian Government’s continued support and investment of $6.4 million into the research-backed MOST platform in the 2024-25 Victorian state budget.
MOST is a free digital mental health service for young people that offers access to self-directed therapeutic content, peer workers, careers counselling, a moderated online community, and one-on-one clinical support.
Since 2021, MOST has been delivered in all Victorian youth mental health services and has provided more than 8000 young Victorians with access to critically important mental health care, at a time when accessing in-person support services have become increasingly difficult.
MOST’s unique value is in its strong foundation in evidence and research, developed over 11 years through Orygen’s world-leading youth mental health research centre. The platform has been researched in 21 pilot studies and clinical trials, received funding through 39 competitive research grants and international research partnerships, and published in more than 25 academic papers.
Because of the strong evidence-base, developed through Orygen Digital’s research leadership and the success of its translation into real-world service settings, MOST will be funded in 2024-25 not only in Victoria, but also Queensland, NSW, ACT and Western Australia. It is an exemplar of what is possible through high quality research translation in youth mental health.
Orygen also welcomes the Victorian Government’s $30.7 million investment into programs and care for eating disorders.
Orygen looks forward to upcoming discussions with the Victorian Government regarding the critical importance of continuing to invest in the world-leading youth mental health research infrastructure and expertise that Orygen has developed and delivered, and which has transformed care for young people in this state.