CEO Update: Highlights from our 2023-2024 Annual Report
20 November 2024
CEO Message
CEO Update: Highlights from our 2023-2024 Annual Report
Mental Health Australia’s 2023-2024 Annual Report celebrates our efforts to drive mental health reform. Our report showcases the range of activities, submissions, research initiatives and events we led over the last financial year through strong collaboration with our member organisations, government stakeholders, and people with lived and living experience of mental ill-health, their family, carers and supporters.
A yearly highlight are our growing bi-annual Members Policy Forums, where the Mental Health Australia team works with members to discuss national priorities to shape our collective advocacy efforts. At our Forum in May this year we were honoured to be joined by Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Mark Butler MP, and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, The Hon. Emma McBride MP, who both gave an overview on what the Federal Budget announcements would mean for the community and mental health sector. This was our largest Members Policy Forum to date, with over 130 CEOs, executives, and leaders from across 77 of our member organisations.
Our 2023 Parliamentary Advocacy Day in September 2023 brought together 80 delegates from 55 member organisations to urge the Federal Government to prioritise mental health reform. We facilitated 39 meetings with parliamentarians for members to have face-to-face discussions about the issues that matter to our sector.
Throughout the year, we also continued to provide strong policy recommendations and strategic guidance to governments and policymakers on significant national issues with nine submissions, including our 2024-2025 Pre-Budget Submission (which resulted in 10 of our 18 asks being fully or partially implemented), our submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide, our submission to the Commonwealth Government response to COVID-19 and our submission to the Senate Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment bill.
Mental Health Australia also worked closely with the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum to develop our joint Advice to governments on evidence-informed and good practice psychosocial services, which outlines principles that should underpin psychosocial service delivery and describes a diverse array of psychosocial services and models that have been shown to achieve good outcomes.
Through Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (the Embrace Project) we continued to focus on mental health and suicide prevention for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, working closely with our partners the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA). The cornerstone of the Embrace project is the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia, which is a free, online resource that allows organisations to evaluate and enhance their cultural responsiveness. We also continued to produce community developed in-language resources, and were proud to host a Roundtable at the 2024 National Suicide Prevention Conference.
Our 2023 World Mental Health Day campaign ‘Look after your mental health, Australia’ had 12,742 sign-ups and a social media reach of 4.88 million, making this one of our most successful campaigns yet.
We also continued to amplify the voices of those with lived experience of mental ill-health, and their family, carers and supporters, through auspicing the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, and facilitating the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives.
A special thank you to our members over the past year for your continued support and commitment to mental health reform. As this annual report shows, we are making a difference and moving closer towards having mentally healthy people and mentally healthy communities through our collective efforts.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
The diary next week
- Today I am attending a meeting of the Safety and Quality Group, a subcommittee of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials Group.
- Tomorrow I am meeting with the Department of Health and Aged Care on the design of the National Early Intervention Service.
- On Friday, the Mental Health Australia policy team will attend the National Disability Insurance Agency Reform for Outcomes Program Quarterly Meeting.
- On Monday I am meeting with Suicide Prevention Australia, and with advisors to The Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, and The Hon. Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
- On Tuesday I am attending the Coalition for Preventative Health Funding Launch, hosted by the Consumer Health Forum of Australia.
Perinatal Mental Health Week: We’re here, a community that cares
Taking place from 17-23 November 2024, Perinatal Mental Health Week shines a light on the importance of perinatal mental health and the vital role community support plays in nurturing expectant parents. The theme for this year’s national campaign is ‘We’re here, a community that cares’.
Each year the community shares their stories to help achieve the vision of a society where perinatal mental health is valued and understood and where stigma and systemic barriers to seeking help no longer exist.
To find out more, visit www.pmhweek.org.au for resources, and ways to get involved.
PMHW is proudly supported by Mental Health Australia.
Submission on National Mental Health Commission Reform
Mental Health Australia has called for the National Mental Health Commission to be restructured as an independent, standalone statutory agency in our submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the future of the commission. A strengthened, independent commission is critical to improving our mental health and suicide prevention systems through robust monitoring and accountability.
Read our submission at the button below.
Evaluation of Mental Health Australia's World Mental Health Day campaign
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 World Mental Health Day campaign 'Meaningful Connections Matter'.
As we look ahead to make an even bigger impact in 2025, we'd love your feedback. Your insights are invaluable in helping us understand what worked, what could be improved, and how we can better advocate for mental health awareness and support.
The survey closes on Sunday 24 November. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey for your chance to win one of three $100 e-gift cards:
Mental Health News
People in Australia missing out on homelessness support as services buckle under strain
A landmark study has found the number of people at risk of homelessness has surged 63 per cent to three million, overwhelming the capacity of homelessness services who have had to close their doors to people desperately seeking help. A new Impact Economics report, Call Unanswered, surveyed 23 specialist homelessness services over two weeks in September 2024, revealing the drastic measures taken to manage overwhelming demand.
New Duty of Care obligations on platforms will keep Australians safer online
The Australian Government will be legislating a Digital Duty of Care. The Digital Duty of Care will place the onus on digital platforms to proactively keep
Australians safe and better prevent online harms. Aligned with the United Kingdom and European Union approaches, digital platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harms on their platforms and services, with the framework to be underpinned by risk assessment and risk mitigation, and informed by safety-by-design principles.
Leading mental health organisations welcome new regulations to create safer digital platforms
ReachOut, Beyond Blue and Black Dog Institute today welcome the Federal Government’s landmark decision to implement a new duty of care regulation that will hold social media companies accountable for the safety of their users.
The decision aligns closely with recommendations outlined in a joint submission made by ReachOut, Beyond Blue and Black Dog Institute advocating for the implementation of safety-by-design.
Social cohesion steady, but strained by cost-of-living pressures
Financial stress continues to impact people in Australia's’ sense of belonging, but the country’s social cohesion has held strong over the past 12 months, according to a major study from The Australian National University (ANU) and the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute.
The 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion study of more than 8,000 people explores the challenges and strengths that shape the nation’s social fabric. It found that key areas of concern for people in Australia in 2024 include the economy, housing, immigration and safety.
15th anniversary of the apology to forgotten Australians and former child migrants
The Australian Government last week acknowledged the 15th anniversary of the National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants who as children were abandoned by, or removed from, their families and placed into institutionalised care.
Building a better future for families and their children
The Australian Government says it wants all children in Australia to be given the opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they grow up, and has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing entrenched, intergenerational disadvantage experienced by families and their children and communities with the second roundtable of the Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children (IDAC). The roundtable agreed to the scope and direction of the next phase of the 10-year Commonwealth-philanthropy IDAC partnership.
Greens say social media age ban doesn't stack up, Inquiry report recommends tougher action on big tech
A blunt age ban for social media is not the solution for tackling the toxic tech platforms, according to final report recommendations from the Joint Select Committee into Social Media and Australian Society tabled in Parliament today. In additional comments, the Greens have called for tech giants to be prohibited from targeting, harvesting and selling the data of children as well as a Digital Services Tax to make the tech giants pay their fair share.
New financial scheme available for victims of crime (VIC)
Minister for Victim Support The Hon. Enver Erdogan says the Victorian Government is better supporting victims of crime, making it easier to get financial assistance and have their trauma recognised outside of court through the new online Financial Assistance Scheme. The scheme was developed with victims of crime to ensure it is trauma-informed and victim-centred.
Compassion takes centre stage: NSW peak body calls for heartfelt leadership at Drug Summit (NSW)
Fams, the peak body for family and children's services in New South Wales, is urging a transformative shift in drug policy at the forthcoming New South Wales Drug Summit in Sydney, calling on the Parliament to lead with compassion and implement cohesive strategies prioritising child safety and wellbeing while keeping families united.
Paediatricians advise government to improve number of children receiving essential early health check (NSW)
As the New South Wales Government re-opens its inquiry into improving access to early childhood health and development checks, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians has advised the state government to make health checks more comprehensive and accessible, to address systemic inequities.
Work begins on statewide approach to bullying in schools (NSW)
The New South Wales Schools Advisory Council will be convened in the first week of December to begin work on a statewide approach to address bullying in New South Wales schools, as the New South Wales Government supports advocate calls for a national approach to the issue.
Postcode discrimination hits regional mental health services (SA)
Regional psychologist Dr Amanda Rogers reports that patients on Eyre Peninsula are cancelling their mental health treatment because they cannot afford the full cost of the consult.
The Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Regional Health Services, Penny Pratt is calling on the South Australian Government to stop discrimination when providing mental health services outside of metropolitan Adelaide.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Open for consultation: Draft national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists
You are invited to participate in consultation to test the draft national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists via the Consultation Hub.
The Department of Health and Aged Care is engaging Allen + Clarke Consulting to undertake background research and extensive sector consultation to draft, test and refine a set of national standards for the counselling and psychotherapy professions.
The draft national standards are now available. You can review and provide feedback on the draft standards via the Consultation Hub until Friday 13 December 2024.
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health is now on LinkedIn
The Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project is part of our work at Mental Health Australia, and provides a national focus on mental health and suicide prevention for people from multicultural backgrounds.
The Embrace project aims to:
- Increase participation of consumers and carers from multicultural backgrounds in mental health services
- Improve outcomes for multicultural mental health consumers, carers and their families
- Increase mental health awareness and knowledge for people in multicultural communities
- Improve cultural awareness and diversity of the mental health workforce.
Follow @Embrace on LinkedIn for news, insights, resources and more information on this important work supporting multicultural mental health in Australia.
Keep up to date with all things multicultural mental health with the Embrace newsletter.
Click on the button below to subscribe.
Webinar: Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Readiness Checklist
The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) is hosting a webinar on its recently released Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Readiness Checklist. This webinar is organised and held by the NMHCCF Mental Health Peer Workforce Working Group.
When: 12:00-1:00pm AEDT, Wednesday 4 December 2024
Where: Online via Zoom.
Find our more about the webinar and register at the button below.
Free mental health and suicide prevention training for the veteran community
Mental Health First Aid International is offering free mental health literacy and suicide prevention training for members of the veteran and defence communities through the Mental Health Protect program. Anyone in the mental health and suicide prevention sector working directly with veteran communities is eligible to participate.
Click on the button below for more information, including an information pack for stakeholders, and to enrol.
New Suicide Prevention Implementation Hub
Life in Mind Australia has launched a Suicide Prevention Implementation Hub, designed as part of the LIFEWAYS project to support the Australian suicide prevention sector to harness implementation science and help close the research-to-practice gap. The hub has been created in collaboration with suicide prevention and implementation experts, and people with lived and living experience. Please share with your networks. A Stakeholder Brief is attached for more information.
Australian Government grant opportunity forecast: Mental Health Program – Postgraduate Psychology Incentive Program Round 2
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has forecast an opportunity for grant funding through the Postgraduate Psychology Incentive Program, and released draft grant opportunity guidance.
The grant is intended to support higher education providers who have created additional postgraduate psychology places in courses which lead to general registration and can lead to relevant areas of practice endorsement. Funding will be available over 4 grant rounds, with one round opening each financial year from 2023-24 to 2026-27. Eligible organisations will be required to apply for each individual round as they become available on GrantConnect.
Read more at the GrantConnect website at the button below.
Update on NDIS legislation changes – frequently asked questions
There have recently been changes to the NDIS Act. From 3 October 2024 the most important changes included:
- participants can only use their NDIS funds for items listed as NDIS supports
- new and reviewed plans will show total budget amounts, funding component amounts, and funding periods
- the NDIA can change plan management type if people need help managing their funds.
Information about these changes is available on the NDIS website, including frequently asked questions.
Reminder: NDIS Pricing consultations
There is still time to have your say – the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has extended its consultations on NDIS Pricing reform opportunities to 11:59pm Friday 22 November 2024.
The NDIS Review recommended the Australian Government should transition responsibility for advising on NDIS pricing to IHACPA. The Australian Government has not yet announced whether it will implement this recommendation. In this consultation process IHACPA is looking to hear about:
- what you think is important to consider in pricing the NDIS
- how pricing approaches can best operate
- what does and doesn't work.
There are several ways make a submission:
- fill in a survey to provide your thoughts in a more structured way.
- write up your experiences and provide them in a document. This can be as short or as long as you like.
A summary of results from the insights heard through the engagement process will be published in December 2024. Find out more about this consultation process by visiting the IHACPA website.
Have your say: Consultations underway to inform design and delivery of Foundational Supports
Foundational Supports are additional supports for people with disability. They will sit alongside the NDIS and existing services in the community.
The Australian Government wants to hear from people with disability, parents, families and the sector to help design Foundational Supports.
There will be different types of Foundational Supports. The Department of Social Services is starting consultation on just some of these supports, called general supports. These are for all people with disability aged under 65. Depending on your interests, you can join discussions about supports like:
- information and advice
- self-advocacy
- peer supports
- capacity building.
Have your say before 30 November 2024 by:
- adding to an online ideas wall
- completing an online questionnaire or uploading a submission
- attending an event near you or online.
Visit www.engage.dss.gov.au/Foundational-Supports to have your say or for more information.
New Butterfly Foundation body dissatisfaction and appearance-related discrimination survey
Butterfly Foundation has commissioned KPMG to undertake a study on the costs to the Australian economy caused by body dissatisfaction and appearance-related discrimination. The project includes a survey to hear about experiences of body dissatisfaction and the impacts of appearance-related discrimination.
The survey is open to all people in Australia aged 16 or over, and should take around 15 minutes to complete. Please share with your networks to help fill gaps in the existing literature and uncover the true impact of appearance ideals.
Access the survey at the button below.
Recruitment for Prevention United's Youth Ambassadors Group in 2025
Prevention United is recruiting for their Youth Ambassadors Group. They’re looking for a group of young people who are passionate about youth mental health to shape their work advocating to the government. To be eligible, participants must be aged 16-25 and live in Victoria, be able to attend in-person monthly meetings in Melbourne, and available to participate in Group activities throughout 2025, including a two-day Summer intensive on 15-16 January 2025.
Australian Society of Psychological Medicine: Professional Peer Reflection Groups 2025
Registrations have opened for the Australian Society of Psychological Medicine's (ASPM) 2025 Professional Peer Reflection Groups.
Since 2015, ASPM has been at the forefront of promoting reflective practice. They have successfully organised peer reflection groups and continue to provide training for group facilitators who now lead professional groups throughout Australia.
An early bird rate is on offer for registration before 20 December 2024. Learn more at the button below.
Orygen: Help improve professional development for the youth mental health workforce
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, is seeking to understand the learning needs of the youth mental health workforce in a short survey.
Mental health professionals who work with young people aged 12 to 25 are invited to help shape the future of professional development in youth mental health in The THRIVE Project: Exploring self-directed learning in youth mental health workforce survey. Survey participants can also win a $100 gift voucher.
The survey closes 25 January 2025 and can be accessed at the button below.
University of Melbourne: Seeking mental health prevention professionals
Survey of Community Attitudes to Prevention of Mental Health Problems
Researchers at the University of Melbourne are conducting a survey to understand community attitudes to the prevention of mental health problems, and actions taken to support mental health. Professionals with expertise in mental health prevention in practice, healthcare, policy, or research settings are invited to take part in an online survey to help identify ways to improve attitudes to prevention in Australia. The survey takes no more than 10 minutes.
For more information, please contact Ellie Tsiamis ellie.tsiamis@unimelb.edu.au or Professor Nicola Reavley nreavley@unimelb.edu.au, or click the button below.
Queensland Mental Health Commission Leading Reform Summit 2024
Sofitel Brisbane, 27-28 November 2024
Please note: This event is currently at capacity, join the waitlist to be notified if tickets become available.
The Leading Reform Summit is the Queensland Mental Health Commission's annual two-day forum for leaders in Queensland's mental health, alcohol and other drugs, suicide prevention and associated human services sectors. It's a forum for leaders, people with lived and living experience, carers, frontline clinicians and workers, service providers, policy-makers, funders, planners and decision-makers.
Learn more at the button below.
Coming soon: Occupational Therapy Australia’s OT Mental Health Forum 2024, 28-29 November, Melbourne
Occupational Therapy Australia’s (OTA) OT Mental Health Forum 2024 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is fast approaching and is set to be the largest yet.
Spanning two days and packed with sessions that will provide opportunities for OTs to gain insight into emerging trends, connect with fellow professionals, and participate in discussions that are shaping the future of OT in mental health, the Forum is an invaluable chance for OTs across all areas of mental health practice to gather, learn, and be inspired.
Register here: https://www.otausevents.com.au/mentalhealthforum2024/registration
View the program at the button below.
National Care and Support Sector Conference, 25 July 2025, Perth
The National Care and Support Sector Conference brings the Disability, Aged Care, Mental Health, Early Childhood Education and Care and Veterans' Care sectors together to discuss shared challenges and opportunities for providers at a time of rapid reform.
The conference aims to gather insights that will help shape reform, ensuring the voices of sector leaders, providers, and individuals with lived experience are heard at the highest policy-making levels.
Learn more at the button below.
Job opportunity: Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research
The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR), a statewide multi-disciplinary academic partnership hosted within West Moreton Health, is currently recruiting for the position of Director. The position is a strategic leadership role that together with the executive team provides authoritative advice on delivering translatable research outcomes to influence mental health service delivery and policy at state and national levels.
Applications close 26 November 2024.
Learn more at the button below.
Featured Members
Meaningful Ageing Australia is a membership-based not-for-profit organisation, focussed on the social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of older people. We create evidence-informed, practical resources and engage with the system of care to improve quality of life for people who are accessing aged care services. We are the peak body for spirituality and ageing.
Pathways SouthWest was established 27 years ago and is a unique organisation which partners with its consumers and carers to reduce the impact of mental illness. Pathways SouthWest promotes recovery by providing specialised non-clinical mental health support to people in the community who experience serious and persistent mental illness, as well as carers (those people who provide care and support to consumers).
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