Public hearings are running from 2 - 26 July
The Royal Commission’s public hearings will include evidence about people’s lived experience of mental illness.
Some of the content may be distressing, and you might like to consider the supports you have around you as you watch the hearings.
Transcripts will be published on this page the day following each hearing, along with witness statements. You might prefer to read the transcripts/statements at a time and in a place that suits you.
If you are upset by the content, or if you or a loved one require support, the following services are available to support you.
If you're not in immediate danger but you need help, call Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24.
These services can also help you:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
For situations that are harmful or life-threatening contact emergency services immediately - Triple Zero (000).
If you are looking for a mental health service, visit this page on the Better Health Channel:
betterhealth.vic.gov.au/servicesandsupport/mental-health-services
Hearing dates and locations
Hearings will run from Tuesday 2 July until Friday 26 July. Anyone can attend and you don't need to register. The hearings will be at the Melbourne Town Hall, except for the following dates:
- Monday 15 July, the hearings will be held in Maryborough
- Tuesday 16 July, the hearings will be held at the Aborigines Advancement League Inc in Thornbury
The hearings will run daily between 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm. The venues will be open to the public from 9.45am daily.
All venues are accessible. If you would like to attend and have specific requirements please contact us before the hearings at contact@rcvmhs.vic.gov.au or 1800 00 11 34.
What to expect at the hearings
Public transport disruptions
Major construction works are taking place across metropolitan and regional train networks in July. This may cause delays for people planning to travel to the Melbourne Town Hall to attend the hearings. You can read more about the disruptions on the Public Transport Victoria website.
If you're likely to be impacted by transport delays, we encourage you to watch the hearings via live stream from this website.
Hearing documents
Tuesday 2 July - Opening day
Wayne Schwass - witness statement
Nicole Juniper - witness statement
Andrew Robb AO - witness statement
Daniel Bolger - witness statement
Wednesday 3 July - Stigma
Janet Meagher AM - witness statement
Nicola Reavley - witness statement
Teresa - restricted publication order, witness statement
Dr Chris Groot - witness statement
Dr Michelle Blanchard - witness statement
Thursday 4 July - Prevention and early intervention
Georgie Harman - witness statement
David Forbes - witness statement part 1, part 2
Melanie Hill (pseudonym) - restricted publication order, witness statement
Helen Herrman AO - witness statement
Friday 5 July - Prevention and early intervention
Amelia Morris - witness statement
Dr Gaynor Blankley - witness statement
Shaun McClare - witness statement
Dr Ric Haslam - witness statement
Patrick McGorry AO - witness statement
Monday 8 July - Access to and navigation of the mental health system
Simon Stafrace - witness statement
Ruth Vine - witness statement
Erica Williams - witness statement
Dr Neil Coventry - witness statement part 1, part 2
Tuesday 9 July - Access to and navigation of the mental health system
Dr Caroline Johnson - witness statement
Dr Sika Turner - witness statement
Gail Bradley - restricted publication order, witness statement
Janet Butler - witness statement
Dr Paul Denborough - witness statement
Wednesday 10 July - Access to and navigation of the mental health system
Dean Stevenson - witness statement
Malcolm Hopwood - witness statement
Georgia Harraway-Jones - witness statement
Elizabeth Crowther - witness statement
Peter Ruzyla - witness statement
Ingrid Amann - witness statement
Thursday 11 July - Access to and navigation of the mental health system
Dr Ainslie Senz - witness statement
Tracey Morgan - witness statement
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir - witness statement
Sally Jennings (pseudonym) - restricted publication order, witness statement
Simon Thomson - witness statement
Louise Glanville - witness statement
Vrinda Edan - witness statement
Friday 12 July - Carers and family
Rebecca Thomas (pseudonym) - restricted publication order, witness statement
Rose Cuff - witness statement
Jesse Morgan - witness statement
Mary Pershall - witness statement
Dr Margaret Leggatt - witness statement
John Murray and Kate Dillon (pseudonyms) - restricted publication order, exclusion order
Monday 15 July - Rural
Terry Welch - witness statement
Al Gabb - witness statement
Trevor Thomas - restricted publication order, witness statement
Chris Thomas - restricted publication order, witness statement
Dr Ravi Bhat - witness statement part 1, part 2, part 3
Dr Alison Kennedy - witness statement
Dr Gerard Ingham - witness statement
Tuesday 16 July - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Aunty Nellie Flagg - restricted publication order, witness statement
Helen Kennedy - witness statement
Adam Burns - witness statement
Andrew Jackomos - witness statement part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8
Helen Milroy - witness statement
Tamara Lovett - restricted publication order, witness statement
Dr Graham Gee - witness statement
Wednesday 17 July - LGBTIQ+ and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Ro Allen - witness statement part 1, part 2, part 3
Dr Ruth McNair - witness statement
A/Prof Michelle Telfer - witness statement
Katie Larsen - witness statement
Alex Smith (pseudonym) - restricted publication order, witness statement
Thursday 18 July - LGBTIQ+ and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Adriana Mendoza - witness statement
George Yengi - witness statement
Kylie Scoullar - witness statement
Adwin Town - witness statement
Kali Paxinos - witness video submission
Marie Piu - restricted publication order, witness statement
Friday 19 July - Community resilience
Greg McMahon - witness statement
Emma King - witness statement
Matiu Bush - witness statement
Jane Anderson - witness statement
Scientia Professor Helen Christensen AO - witness statement
Monday 22 July - Suicide prevention
Transcript
Rod Jackson - witness statement
Jeremy Dwyer - witness statement
Professor Jane Pirkis - witness statement
Susan Trotter (pseudonym) - restricted publication order, witness statement
Alan Woodward - witness statement
Tuesday 23 July - Suicide prevention
Katerina Kouselas - witness statement
John McLaren - witness statement
Anne Lyon - witness statement
Louise Flynn - witness statement
A/Professor Peter Burnett - witness statement
Bruce Crossett - witness statement
Wednesday 24 July - Prioritisation and governance of mental health services
Dr Gerry Naughtin - witness statement
Dr Peggy Brown AO - witness statement
The Hon Robert Knowles AO - witness statement
Adjunct Professor David Plunkett - witness statement
Themes
Ten key themes will be explored during the month of hearings, including:
- suicide prevention
- stigma
- accessing and navigating the system
- prevention and early intervention
Issues of mental health and mental health services in rural Victoria will be considered at the hearing day in Maryborough. The Commission will consider issues specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at the hearing day in Thornbury.
You can read the full details of the topics and key issues that will be explored.
Stay up to date
If you would like to stay up-to-date with news from the Commission, share your email in the Register for updates form.