A 31-year-old Highton man was found dead in a room at the Swanston Centre, on the corner of Myers and Swanston streets in Geelong, in the early hours of February 23.
The accused, a 31-year-old Breakwater man, was arrested in West Geelong and has since been charged with one count of murder.
State-owned Barwon Health, which runs the facility, previously confirmed the incident as an "unexpected death of an inpatient in the acute mental health ward", extending condolences to the family of the deceased patient and support for staff.
The intensive mental health care centre has previously faced scrutiny over patient care and union calls for action on pay and occupational violence.
In 2025, the health facility was charged under workplace laws after a patient died by suicide while undergoing treatment at the centre in 2022.
The case remains before the court.
A 2024 coronial inquest was launched after a patient was discovered unresponsive by staff at the centre and later died.
Several years earlier, Barwon Health pledged to make changes at the facility following the death of Natasha Ablett, the older sister of AFL great Gary Ablett Jr.
Ms Ablett absconded in 2017 and died of a drug overdose.
The Health and Community Services Union previously said the death reflected ongoing concerns about staffing levels, workplace safety and the ability of staff to care safely for patients.
The man will appear at Geelong Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
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