About 350 members of the Health And Community Services Union (HACSU) attended a state-wide meeting and marched to Parliament House on May 2.
The event was held in defiance of the state government鈥檚 attempt to shut down the union's campaign against government attacks by using legal processes in Fair Work Australia.
The HACSU has been campaigning to defend jobs and ratios in the mental health system that will be slashed under proposed government cuts.
The : 鈥淭he reality is the demand for mental health services in Victoria is rising at more than double the pace of funding. Staff are dedicated and work hard, but simply don鈥檛 have the resources to cope with community demand, particularly within growth areas.
鈥淒espite being elected on the promise to 鈥榝ix the problems鈥, the state government has failed to address the chronic staff shortages in psychiatric in-patient units and community treatment teams. As such, vulnerable members of the community are not getting the care they need.
鈥淚t is time to end the government鈥檚 neglect of mental health services and make the mentally ill a priority.鈥
[Please visit www.bettermentalhealth.org.au for updates on the campaign.]
