The Victorian Labor Party has committed to build new and expanded facilities for Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and the state-funded Orygen Youth Health Clinical Program in Parkville if it wins government in the November election. The commitment is $60 million in funding to improve mental health care for young people in Victoria and Australia.
Victorian Opposition Leader, Daniel Andrews, made the announcement at Orygen in Parkville today. The build will create 350 jobs in construction, and accommodate 400 staff, including international research leaders, when completed. The Centre will also attract millions of dollars in additional research funds to Victoria.
Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director of Orygen said ‘Orygen is the state, national and international epicentre for youth mental health. This new facility will catalyse world class research, new discoveries, better treatments and a secure future for young Victorians with mental illnesses’.
The new 8,500 square metre facility will provide and coordinate clinical facilities for the provision of services to up to 5,000 young people per year, and research and training facilities that will expand Orygen’s world-leading innovation and education services through the conduct of clinical trials and the provision of education to thousands of clinicians.
For over 20 years researchers, clinicians, health professionals and government representatives from around the world have visited Victoria, and in particular Orygen, to learn about the best new treatments in youth mental health. Although it is the internationally recognised leader in the development and delivery of treatments for young people with mental illnesses, Orygen is currently housed in a series of turn-of-the-century dilapidated buildings on its current site in Parkville.
‘This commitment to funding for new facilities for Orygen is another essential contribution in building and supporting the comprehensive mental health care system that young people and their families deserve. Mental illnesses primarily emerge for young people between 12 and 25 and this is where we need to focus on evidence-based early intervention to support them to recover and pursue their life goals’, Professor McGorry said.
The construction of an integrated youth mental healthcare and translational research facility will have a profound impact on outcomes for Victorians, and all young Australians, impacted by mental ill-health, translating into more young people being able to participate and contribute to the Victorian economy.
‘This is an investment in young people’s future, an investment that will save lives’, Professor McGorry said.
For more information on the Orygen capital campaign