Public hearings ran from 2 - 26 July
The Royal Commission’s public hearings included evidence about people’s lived experience of mental illness.
The transcripts are available on this page, along with the 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 ran from Tuesday 2 July until Friday 26 July. The hearings were held at the Melbourne Town Hall, except for the following dates:
- Monday 15 July, the hearings were held in Maryborough
- Tuesday 16 July, the hearings were held at the Aborigines Advancement League Inc in Thornbury
The hearings ran daily between 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm. The venues were open to the public from 9.45am daily.
Hearing documents
Tuesday 2 July - Opening day
Royal Commission Chair, Penny Armytage - hearings opening statement
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 part 1, part 2
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
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
Thursday 25 July - Prioritisation and governance of mental health services
Andrew Greaves - witness statement
Felicity Topp - witness statement
Jennifer Williams AM - witness statement
Kym Peake - witness statement
Friday 26 July - Prioritisation and governance of mental health services
David Martine - witness statement
Nina Edwards (pseudonym) - restricted publication order, witness statement
Julie Dempsey - witness statement
Royal Commission Chair, Penny Armytage - hearings closing statement
Themes
Ten key themes were 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 were considered at the hearing day in Maryborough. The Commission considered 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 were explored.
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