Dr Shalini Arunogiri appointed Clinical Director for new Statewide Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

The newly created Statewide Centre is the result of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which identified the lack of integrated care as an area that needs urgent attention. The Statewide Centre will work toward a best practice model of integrated care for people with co-occurring substance use or addiction and mental illness, and help build the capability of clinicians within the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Services. Working together with a range of key stakeholders, including people with lived and living experience, the Centre will help build the capability of clinicians within Area and Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, as well as Alcohol and Other Drug Services, in delivering integrated care.

“Time and time again we provide support to so many Victorians and their families living with addiction and mental illness, who have shared their stories of falling through the cracks in the system. We hear too often from health professionals and workers, who struggle to navigate the system themselves and can’t get their patients the services they need. Integrated care has been referred to as a wicked problem. For our organisation to be offered a chance to lead this change, and to work towards a solution, is such a tremendous privilege and I am delighted to be offered this opportunity,” Dr Arunogiri said.

Dr Arunogiri brings a wealth of experience to the role as an addiction psychiatrist and clinician-researcher. She is currently Deputy Clinical Director at Turning Point where she leads a team of over 50 clinicians. Dr Arunogiri is a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, and has published extensively as well as attracting over $14M in research funding. Her research areas of interest focus on treatment of co-occurring mental health and addictive disorders, particularly for women living with addiction. Dr Arunogiri was a recent recipient of an NHMRC Emerging Leader Investigator Grant, which will support a five-year program of work on methamphetamine use, trauma, and novel integrated treatment approaches.

Prof Dan Lubman AM, Executive Clinical Director at Turning Point said, “Supporting the delivery of integrated care is a key focus for the new Statewide Centre and we are thrilled to appoint Dr Arunogiri to the role. Her leadership and experience will be crucial in ensuring Victorians living with mental illness and substance use or addiction receive the care they deserve.”

Dr Arunogiri will commence in the role on 6 June 2022.