Earlier this month, MHFFTas participated in a consultation hosted by Statewide Mental Health Services to discuss the proposed relocation of the Tolosa Street respite service in Glenorchy to a new, purpose-built site at Bellette Place in Chigwell.

If approved, the new site would be operated by Richmond Futures, with continued focus on residential rehabilitation and respite. Statewide Mental Health Services are proposing that Richmond Futures would provide daily support and rehabilitation services, while clinical care would remain with Statewide Mental Health Services.

During the consultation, we:

• Heard details about the proposed model
• Emphasised the importance of ongoing family and friend involvement in shaping the direction and delivery of support.
• Advocated for continuity of care and existing clinical levels of care to remain under the new proposed model.
• Advocated for appropriate disability access to the site
• Spaces for families and friends to meet with their loved ones

MHFFTas will continue to engage closely with SMHS throughout this process to ensure the perspectives of families and friends are represented and respected. We will keep our community informed as updates become available.

What Happens Next?

The feedback from this session will feed directly into the design of Primary Health Tasmania’s future continuum of care commissioning model. We sincerely thank all our representatives who attended and contributed. Your lived experience, honesty, and thoughtful contributions are helping build a system that works with and for the people who use it.

We look forward to sharing future updates as the project progresses.