Statement regarding headspace Melton

Statement regarding headspace Melton

22 March 2018

The Board and management of Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, welcomes advice from the Department of Health that an external review will be undertaken of the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network ‘s tender process and decision for the establishment and operation of headspace Melton.

A consortium led by Orygen tendered to establish and operate headspace Melton. This review was requested by Orygen on behalf of the consortium in light of concerns about the rigour, transparency and probity of the tender process.

The Department of Health's independent external review is an encouraging development in ensuring that the tender process has delivered an outcome that the young people of Melton, their families, and the broader Melton community can have confidence in.

We look forward to contributing to the external review and providing any information that ensures that a rigorous evaluation is undertaken of the original process and decision.  While this independent external review process is underway we have requested that the Department of Health advise the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network to suspend any contract negotiations in relation to headspace Melton.