Making NGO mental health services more visible in national reporting

Making NGO mental health services more visible in national reporting

One of the things I value most about our sector is the way we can come together to share ideas and work towards a stronger mental health system. Mental Health Australia’s recent online data webinar on improving the visibility of non-government (NGO) mental health data in national reporting was a great example of this.

Over 40 people joined us to share their insights on the current data landscape, priorities for future work, and potential datasets which could become part of the National Mental Health Commission’s 2025 Report Card over time, and as data quality and availability improves.

I want to thank everyone who contributed. The commitment across the sector to strengthening the visibility of NGO mental health services is clear. So too is the belief that better data benefits the whole system, not just individual organisations.

I spoke recently about the value of good data to guide decision making. However, as our webinar touched on, the work of NGO mental health services remains largely invisible in our national data. These services play an essential role in walking alongside people, families and communities. But this data gap limits our ability to build a holistic picture of what best supports people and where investment is most needed.

This is why Mental Health Australia is pleased to be working closely with the National Mental Health Commission as they look for ways to better include NGO services in the National Report Card. The Report Card remains one of the few tools that gives the community an open and accessible view of how our mental health system is performing. It is an important part of building trust, transparency and improvement.

Our policy team is now analysing the sector’s input to prepare a final report for the Commission in March, and we are working together on a clear feedback process to keep the sector informed. Your voices remain central and will continue to guide the next steps.

This collaboration is also a reminder of the important role of the National Mental Health Commission itself, which is to listen deeply to the sector, bring evidence together and independently report on what is really happening.

The Commission is here to monitor how our mental health and suicide prevention systems are performing, provide clear and independent advice and drive meaningful improvement. To do this well, it must be able to speak openly, without fear or favour. That is only possible when the Commission is independent.

The Government’s 2024 consultation on strengthening the Commission proposed several pathways, including keeping it within the Department of Health and Aged Care. Mental Health Australia, the Productivity Commission and the wider sector have been clear that true statutory independence is needed if the Commission is to fulfil its purpose: providing frank and fearless advice and holding government to account to improve Australia’s mental health.

As we look to the Federal Budget in May, we hope to see this independence progressed. When NGO services are more visible in national reporting, and when the Commission can operate independently, we set the foundations for the long‑term reform our mental health system needs.

Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia