MENTAL health workers from across the western suburbs have demanded better funding during a rowdy rally outside the office of a local MP.
Psychiatric nurses, mental health clinicians and other care workers used a two-hour strike last Wednesday to demonstrate outside the Sunshine office of Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn.
The rally for fair pay and conditions was the latest act in a statewide campaign to improve mental health services.
MidWest Area Mental Health Service nurse Peter, who did not want his surname revealed, said the state government was failing to provide funding to meet spiralling demands.
“We have been here working in the middle of the growth of Melton, Hume and Brimbank, yet we have the same staffing levels as we had in 1995,” he said.
“The government is supposed to be looking after vulnerable people, but we are just being stonewalled.”
Peter said Mr Finn was not present during last week’s rally but workers remained hopeful he would meet with a delegation.
Health and Community Services Union state secretary Lloyd Williams said services were under growing pressure and workers were struggling to cope.
“Despite their election promise to fix the problems and several months of negotiations, the Baillieu government has failed to improve the services and resolve the bargaining with mental health clinicians,” he said.
“The suicide rate in the community is higher than the road toll. Mental health is 20 per cent of the health burden, yet receives 10 per cent of the funding.”
Mr Williams said better training for psychiatric nurses and clinicians was critical to fixing the system.
“With an ageing workforce, we are going to see the problems just get worse.
“Staff are dedicated, but are struggling with the increasing demand, particularly with the growth areas around the west.”
Mr Finn would not comment on the strike action.
