CEO Update: A call to action on child and youth mental health
25 July 2025
CEO Message
A call to action on child and youth mental health
Children and young people in Australia are experiencing mental ill-health at never-before seen levels.
At the recent Health and Mental Health Ministers meeting, Ministers acknowledged the importance of improving the mental health of children and young people. In particular, Ministers supported a renewed focus on the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and agreed to prioritise children and young people in the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
While this is promising, governments have not yet tangibly demonstrated the level of investment and change that is needed to fundamentally improve the mental health of children and young people. Mental Health Australia has provided Ministers with six tangible actions to improve child and youth mental health, that still need to be progressed.
The need for improvements for infants and children is particularly urgent, with waiting periods of between 6-12 months to access a psychologist or other allied health mental health support. As stated in Mental Health Australia’s federal election campaign Case for Change, many issues that develop into mental health challenges in adolescence can be identified, prevented and managed if picked up in childhood.
To start to turn the trajectory of mental ill-health in children and young people around, all governments will need to work together to develop supports for infants, children and families across the spectrum of promotion, prevention and early intervention, along with specialist supports. Effective mental health support for children and young people requires a family-centred approach, with an emphasis on connecting services across systems.
A core component of improving mental health in children and young people also needs to be ensuring the universal delivery of a coordinated and comprehensive approach to mental health in education. The effectiveness of school-based interventions has been clearly demonstrated, however the landscape of implementation is both cluttered and fragmented. As a universal platform, the education system offers a unique opportunity to build children and young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing skills, identify emerging issues early, and connect people with specialist mental health supports if needed.
Importantly, the lived experience and needs of children and their families and young people must lead the design, delivery, evaluation and continuous improvement of approaches to improve mental health in children and young people. We must bring this knowledge and expertise together with the research and evidence base, and the on-the-ground insights from practitioners, educators and service providers, to create and deliver a comprehensive approach mental health for children and young people.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
Information requests – Productivity Commission review
The Productivity Commission is seeking case studies and further information from the sector as part of their review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. The Productivity Commission’s Interim report includes four requests for information on:
- case studies highlighting best practice in integrating peer workers in clinical mental health and suicide prevention settings, particularly by improving clinician awareness of the peer workforce;
- examples of barriers to the genuine participation and influence of people with lived and living experience in governance forums under the National Agreement;
- views on the value and feasibility of having a public dashboard to track and report on progress under the next Agreement’s objectives and outcomes; and
- views on if there should there be an additional schedule in the next agreement to address the co-occurrence of problematic alcohol and other drug use and mental ill health and suicide.
Responses to these requests for information can be provided to the Productivity Commission until 31st July, via online submission or phone. See the Interim report for further information, or contact mentalhealthreview@pc.gov.au (1800 020 083).
Mental Health News
Media release: More people delaying mental health care due to cost – new report on Australia’s mental health system
The latest snapshot of Australia’s mental health system shows a steady rise in financial stress and the number of Australians delaying mental health care due to cost. One in five Australians delayed or did not see any mental health professional due to cost.
Media release: Supporting bereaved families one step at a time
The unique nature of military service can have enduring impacts for those who wear the uniform and for the loved ones who stand beside them. In response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the Albanese Government is working to better support families through grief and bereavement, in a way that works best for their individual circumstances. In an Australian first, a workshop for over 30 bereaved family members of veterans who have died by suicide from across Australia will begin today. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) workshop is based on a decades-old US model, offering an immersive experience in healing and peer support, adapted for the Australian context.
Transcript: Speech to the Fundraising Institute of Australia CEO Forum, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Wednesday 23rd July 2025
The Hon. Andrew Leigh MP discussed Australia’s fundraising environment and the government’s vision for a regulatory environment that supports ethical innovation, reduces administrative burden, and recognises the vital role that fundraising plays in sustaining civil society.
Media release: Peak bodies urged to combat childhood climate anxiety
The Institute of Public Affairs has written to the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc., and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, urging immediate clinical caution around activist climate change messaging directed at young children. “Clinicians are seeing a surge of Childhood Climate Anxiety in young children who do not have the neurological capacity to process existential threats as presented in the National Curriculum. Adults have a duty to protect, not burden, the developing minds of children,” said Clare Rowe, educational psychologist and Adjunct Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.
Media release: Not just a bad day – Farmsafe warns against ignoring the mental health impact of burnout and near misses
In a week where Farmsafe Australia is urging the sector to reflect on the lessons hidden inside every near miss, today’s message is clear: some of those lessons aren’t physical. As National Farm Safety Week continues, Farmsafe is highlighting the link between burnout, situational distress, and the often- unseen mental health risks in farming. “In agriculture, we’re pretty good at pushing through,” says Farmsafe Chair Felicity Richards. “But what we’re not always good at is recognising when that push becomes too much, or when a string of near misses, losses, or long days becomes something bigger than just being tired.”
(See media release attached.)
Media release: Psychedelics and cannabis offer treatment for people with eating disorders
A pioneering international survey of people living with eating disorders has found that cannabis and psychedelics, such as “magic mushrooms” or LSD, were best rated as alleviating symptoms by respondents who self-medicated with the non-prescribed drugs. The worst-rated drugs were alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and cocaine. Prescribed drugs, such as antidepressants, were generally not well rated for treating eating-disorder symptoms but were positively rated for effects on general mental health.
Media release: Horrific footage of man killed in police custody demands urgent reform from Labor's Premier and Police Minister (NSW)
NSW Greens Justice Spokesperson Sue Higginson condemned Labor Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley's failure to commit to reform of police responses to mental health. This follows the release of horrific footage showing a mentally unwell man dying in custody as he screamed for help. It is reported that 45-year-old Collin Burling died in the early hours of Tuesday in police custody. The incident took place in Waterloo in Sydney’s inner-west after help was called because Mr Burling was experiencing a mental health episode.
Media release: More SafeWork inspectors welcome, but workplace mental health requires meaningful reform (NSW)
Australians for Mental Health has welcomed the New South Wales Government’s move to bolster its SafeWork NSW workforce with 51 new inspectors, after the New South Wales Government announced the new roles as part of its “Irreplaceable” safety campaign launch. Around half of the new recruits will focus on psychological safety at work. “Stronger enforcement to ensure our workplaces are not just physically but psychologically safe is absolutely an important part of solving this mental health crisis. But 20 new psychosocial-focused inspectors and five investigators won’t be able to save a broken system,” Australians for Mental Health Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Survey extended: Have your say – National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Peer Workforce Association Survey
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing invites feedback from mental health and suicide prevention peer workers, including peer workers from other sectors, on the scope of and eligibility criteria that will be selected to establish the new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Peer Workforce Association.
Responses will inform the drafting of the grant opportunity to establish the new Association so that it is best placed to meet sector need.
The survey has been extended until Monday 28th July 2025.
Griefline 2025 National Grief Survey
The 2025 National Grief Survey is a nationwide project designed to better understand the experiences of grieving Australians — and where current systems of support are falling short.
Right now, there’s limited data on how grief is experienced in Australia, especially across diverse communities, workplaces, and care settings.
If you’ve experienced grief in the past 12 months, you are invited to share your experience. Your voice will help shape a more inclusive, informed approach to grief support across the country. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and is open until 31st August 2025.
Please share the survey with your community or network.
Applications now open for the Peter Meyer Research Grant (NSW)
One Door Mental Health is now accepting applications for the 2025 Peter Meyer Research Grant. This $15,000 grant supports innovative research led by NSW-based researchers aged 35 years and under, with a focus on improving the lives of people living with schizophrenia. Whether it’s exploring causes, recovery approaches, or psychosocial supports, the grant aims to fund projects that make a meaningful impact.
Applications close 5:00pm 8th August 2025.
Masterclass: Eating disorders – not just anorexia!
The Australian Society for Psychological Medicine invites GPs and primary care clinicians to join Dr Susan Barnett and Dr Karen Spielman for an interactive and practical deep dive into managing eating disorders across diverse presentations. This 4-hour online masterclass is for participants seeking to enhance their confidence and skills in working with patients affected by eating disorders.
Date: Sunday 3rd August 2025
Time: 1:00-5:00pm AEST
Location: Online via Zoom
Learn more at the button below.
Liptember: Raising funds and awareness for women's mental health all September
Make a positive difference for the 1 in 2 Australian women experiencing mental health issues by wearing lipstick in September. Every dollar raised will assist the Liptember Foundation in improving the mental health of Australian women through research, advocacy and education.
Webinar invitation: ReachOut's launch of their new evaluative report
ReachOut Australia is hosting a webinar to launch a new evaluative report exploring the impact of ReachOut PeerChat, a one-to-one digital peer support service. The report unpacks the experiences of the young people who use the service and the peer workers who deliver it. Emily Smith, ReachOut’s Peer Work Manager, will be joined by Rafi Armanto, Head of Lived Experience at Orygen and Tamara Northey, Senior Policy Advisor at the Mental Health Commission of NSW and host, journalist and author, Juanita Phillips. You’ll also hear from ReachOut’s research team and the peer workers behind PeerChat.
Date: Wednesday 30th July 2025
Time: 12:00pm AEST
Location: Online via Zoom
Learn more and register at the button below.
Job Opportunities
Job opportunities: Relationships Australia Victoria
First Nations Social Emotional Wellbeing Worker
Relationships Australia Victoria invites applications for this role based at their headspace Bairnsdale centre. Work as part of the Relationships Australia Victoria First Nations team to provide strength-based and culturally safe services to young people with a focus on First Nations young people.
Counsellor – Couple, Family and Child
Relationships Australia Victoria is seeking a Counsellor – Couple, Family and Child. Reporting to the Centre Manager and working closely with a team of highly skilled clinicians, responsibilities will include the provision of high quality, culturally sensitive relationship counselling and therapy, including education programs to individuals, couples, and families, as required.
Featured Members
ReachOut Australia
ReachOut is the leading online mental health service in Australia supporting young people during tough times. ReachOut helps young people feel better about today and the future, no matter what challenge they’re facing.
Focused Mental Education
Focused Mental Education provides short courses, workshops and consultations for organisations, management, general staff and the community. They can assist with Mental Health and Wellness initiatives and develop specifically tailored courses.
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