He might have connections but appointing Daniel Andrews to a mental health role is not a good look, an expert has said as the days of anti-Dan protests returned to Victoria.
The divisive former premier has been announced as chair of Orygen, a youth mental health research and advocacy group.
It has been derided by critics including former Liberal premier and Beyond Blue founder Jeff Kennett given the negative impacts of the extensive COVID-19 lockdowns overseen by Mr Andrews.
A planned protest outside the organisation's Melbourne headquarters on Friday proved to be a fizzer with only two dozen people attending.
Orygen staff had been told not to come into the office and appointments were rescheduled or moved online to "protect the safety and wellbeing" of young people and staff, a spokesperson said.
Mr Andrews established a royal commission into Victoria's mental health system but also introduced some of Australia's toughest COVID restrictions, including 262 days of lockdown.
Thousands of people attended anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne at the height of the pandemic.
It might have been wiser for Orygen to make a non-political appointment, Monash University professor of sociology Alan Petersen said.
"At one level, the appointment is a good move since Daniel Andrews obviously has a high profile and strong policy connections," he told AAP.
"But the optics are not good given the evident impacts of the extensive lockdowns on people's mental health, with many people still suffering in the wake of the pandemic."
Research had shown the restrictions impacted people's mental health and sense of social wellbeing, Prof Petersen said.
"This was reflected in large increases in calls to helplines during the COVID-19 pandemic and increases in incidences of self-harm and suicide ideation in 2021, the second year of the pandemic," he said.
He noted that Orygen executive director Patrick McGorry, who is believed to have coined the term "shadow pandemic", had been among the experts raising concerns about the mental health impacts.
Professor McGorry has praised Mr Andrews, who will serve a three-year term, as "an outstanding leader for Orygen and the field of youth mental health".
"Mr Andrews has a proven record as an agent of change with a strategic mindset, which are invaluable attributes for Orygen as we continue to lead youth mental health reform while navigating funding challenges to secure the support we need to sustain our vital work," he said in a statement.
Protest organiser Craig Cole said his group's grievance was not with the organisation's workers but with the board.
"We are apologetic that it's caused a bit of a disturbance and inconvenience to people that may have had appointments," he told AAP.
But he said this was one day of interruption compared to "more inconvenience and grief over a (much) longer period of time with appointing Daniel Andrews chairman of the board".
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