CEO Update: New data drives case for mental health reform
13 February 2025
CEO Message
New data drives case for mental health reform
This past week we’ve seen the Productivity Commission release the Report on Government Services 2025, which highlights concerning nationwide trends of reduced access to mental health support, at a time when our community needs it most.
The report shows that 20.4% of people in Australia delayed seeing a mental health professional over the previous 12 months due to cost. This is an increase from the 19.3% reported last year, and up significantly from the 12% reported in 2020-21. This new data really brings home the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Australians’ access to mental health supports.
Similarly, there has been a continued slight decline in the proportion of people in Australia accessing Medicare-subsidised mental health services from a peak 11.6% in 2020-21 to 10.6% in 2023-24.
The report also shows a continued fall in the proportion of children and young people under 25 accessing Medicare-subsidised primary mental health services over the last year, down from 9.6% in 2022-23 to 8.9% in 2023-24. The change is starkest for young people aged 18-24, with rates of use down from 16.4% in 2022-23 to 14.8% in 2023-24.
These declining trends are despite a slight increase in overall ongoing government mental health spending in 2022-23 (the most recent data we have available), to $12.6 billion.
Governments across Australia spent $478.47 on mental health services per person in 2022-23 – an $11.60 increase per person in real terms from 2021-22. Governments invested a further $5.3 billion in support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme for people with “primary” psychosocial disability.
While increased funding to improve access to mental health services and supports across the community is welcome, spending on mental health still represents just 8.3% of overall health expenditure. This is still far below the 15% “burden of disease”, where mental ill-health and substance conditions are estimated to be the highest cause of “non-fatal burden of disease” in Australia in 2023.
While these trends are concerning, as we’ve set out in Mental Health Australia’s Vision Statement: A mentally healthy Australia, we know what we need to do, to set out a different path for Australia’s mental health. We need to:
- Overhaul the system foundations to build a world-class system of mental health care and support;
- Match funding to the scale of the problem and community expectations; and
- Embed an equitable, inclusive, human rights-based approach to care and support.
Our recent Pre-Budget Submission also sets out our recommended investments that the Government can make now, to deliver on these changes.
While this latest data shows stark levels of unmet need for mental health supports across the community, it is released at a time when we have a significant opportunity to influence what the future holds. The next budget and federal election provide important platforms to change this trajectory, and work in partnership with the community, our members and government, to set a course for a mentally healthier Australia.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
The diary next week
- Today, I am attending a meeting of the National Early Intervention Service Expert Advisory Group.
- On Monday, Mental Health Australia is hosting a member-only webinar on Child and Youth Mental Health.
- On Wednesday, I will be meeting with the National Mental Health Commission, and Mental Health Australia will attend the February meeting of the National Disability Insurance Agency's Disability Representative and Carers Organisation Forum.
Call for submissions: Productivity Commission Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Review
The Productivity Commission has been asked by the Australian Government to conduct the final review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
The Commission has developed guidance to assist the preparation of submissions, which sets out some of the issues and questions identified as relevant at this early stage of the inquiry. Participants are asked to provide evidence to support their views, including data and specific examples where possible.
Initial submissions are due by Wednesday 12 March 2025. Learn more at the button below.
Invitation to Mental Health Australia members to join our child and youth mental health webinar
Registration deadline extended to Friday 14th February
This webinar is an opportunity for Mental Health Australia members to provide input to inform Mental Health Australia’s advice to governments on child and youth mental health ahead of the next Health and Mental Health Ministers meeting.
Date: Monday 17th February 2025
Time: 1.00pm-2.30pm AEDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Please register by Friday 14th February 2025 at the button below.
Mental health news
Interview transcript: Minister for Health and Aged Care, ABC RN Breakfast, 10th February 2025
Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, said restoring Medicare-subsidised mental health services to 10 has meant more people have access to important psychological therapy, and he is not inclined to lift the number back up to 20
without expanding the psychology workforce, which is what Government has been focused on over the last couple of Budgets. The Minister added this was in addition to providing other services, including Medicare Mental Health Centres and building a national early intervention service that will take pressure off psychology therapy.
Media release: Labor's cut to mental health support results in record-low access
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, said access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support has gone backwards following the Albanese Labor Government's cruel cut to the Better Access Initiative. At the beginning of 2023, the Albanese Government cut the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions Australians can access in half, against the advice of their own review and Australia's mental health experts.
Media release: States and territories abandon people with disability as National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms tighten access
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) said it is deeply concerned that state and territory governments are delaying the rollout of foundational supports, leaving millions of people with disability to continue without access to essential services-at a time when NDIS reforms are restricting access and reducing supports available under the Scheme.
Interview transcript: Minister for Social Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, 4BC Breakfast, 11th February 2025
Minister for Social Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, said the Government is working very closely with the states and territories on Foundational Supports, and is still expecting that the system will start to be rolled out in the second half of this year, noting that the NDIS Review pointed out that the system set-up is a long-term process.
Media release: Media accountability – people living with mental health challenges and the stigma and discrimination they experience
In Australia, the relationship between mental ill health and risk to the community is often
misunderstood. The three NSW peak bodies Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC), Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) and Being Mental Health Consumers have urged media to better understand how to portray people living with mental health challenges in the news and all forms of communication.
Media release: Australian Government building on investments to close the gap
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Government is building Australia's future, delivering on commitments to First Nations people to help close the gap in partnership with peak bodies, states, territories and local government, as the Government released the Commonwealth's 2024 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2025 Implementation Plan.
Investment in a range of new measures in 2025 was also announced, including increasing the availability of culturally safe and qualified mental health support through scholarships for up to 150 First Nations psychology students.
Interview transcript: Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury, 2CC, 11th February 2025
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury, the Hon. Andrew Leigh MP, discussed issues including social media and the mental wellbeing of young Australians and a paper he co-authored, The Rise of Social Media and Fall in Mental Wellbeing Among Young Australians. Minister Leigh said he wanted to document the worsening mental wellbeing of young Australians since the emergence of social media, including increases in reporting a mental disorder, increasing self-harm hospitalisations and rising suicide rates.
Media release: Butterfly Foundation welcomes funding announcements for national eating disorder helpline
Butterfly Foundation welcomed an investment of $9.2 million over three years by the Federal Government for the Butterfly National Helpline. More than 20,000 people in Australia contact the Helpline,1800 ED HOPE, which provides free phone, email and web support and referral for individuals experiencing an eating disorder, their family and friends, and the professionals who support them such as psychologists, GPs and teachers.
Media release: Safer Internet Day calls for kindness as cyberbullying reports surge over 450% in five years
Children starting out in secondary school account for more than a third of all cyberbullying reports to eSafety, which have surged by more than 450 per cent in the past five years, new data reveals. The figures have been released as the world marks Safer Internet Day (February 11, 2025).
National Disability Insurance Agency and National Disability Insurance Scheme News
New tools to better understand NDIS participants’ support needs
The NDIA has released an approach to market for support needs assesment tools for adults (16 years and over) and an industry consultation process about how best to understand support needs for children and specific kinds of support funded by the NDIS.
This follows the NDIS Review’s recommendation for a different approach to planning to deliver better and fairer outcomes for NDIS participants, and is the first step in designing and testing the new way of collecting the right information to develop a person’s NDIS budget.
Read more here.
Supported independent living and support coordination grant opportunity
The NDIA will run two pilots, the Supported Independent Living pilot and the Support Coordination pilot, for providers in the Quality Supports Program this year, part of the Agency’s plan to ensure every NDIS participant has access to the highest quality supports. The NDIA will select a limited number of disability providers based on rigorous assessment criteria to participate in a restricted grant process, with funding for the costs of providers working closely with the NDIA to develop data about the costs of quality service provision.
Learn more about the grants at Quality supports program | NDIS.
Independent advisory council’s 2023-24 Annual Report
The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) has released its 2023-24 Annual Report, highlighting the advice, work and achievements of the IAC during 2023-24, and its work to bring the views of people with disability, their families, carers and sector experts to the heart of the NDIS.
The Annual Report is available in multiple versions and formats and can be accessed at the NDIS’ website.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Inquiry transcript: Health Impacts of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Australia
Transcript of the hearing in Canberra on 7th February 2025 of the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport - Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia. The transcript includes mentions of mental health, community mental health and facilities, in the context of alcohol and other drug treatment.
Counting down to Mental Health Nurses' Day 2025: Campaign resources now available!
Mental Health Nurses’ Day 2025 is fast approaching, falling on 21st February this year.
The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses invites organisations to help promote this year's event, which aims to spread awareness about the vital role mental health nurses play in our community and thank them for their kindness, courage, inclusion, and commitment.
Promoting the event is an opportunity to recognise the 25,000 mental health nurses in Australia who remain undervalued in the healthcare system and showcase your support and commitment to improving mental health care.
More information and downloadable campaign resources are available at the button below.
Butterfly Foundation launches new report
The Butterfly Foundation has launched a new report on the prevalence and costs caused by body dissatisfaction and appearance-related discrimination. Prepared by KPMG, the report is Australia’s first comprehensive report on the social and economic costs of body dissatisfaction and appearance-related discrimination.
Masterclass workshop: Trauma's Impact Endures – Effects, Disorders and Treatments
The Australian Society for Psychological Medicines invites health professionals to this workshop with trauma and dissociation specialist Bethany Brand.
Date: Sunday 23rd February 2025
When: 9:00am-1:00pm AEDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Registration is essential.
Webinar: Trauma or Treatment – 24th February 2025
The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) presents this webinar about the impact of trauma from a survivor’s perspective. NMHCCF representatives will explore trauma, its impact, and mental health implications, while taking a deeper look at the impacts of services and systems on survivors.
Date: Monday 24th February 2025
When: 3:00pm AEDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Please register at the button below.
Listening Together Research Project
Researchers at the Australian National University are studying how young people with disability and young carers define good listening, and whether they feel listened to by the organisations and services in their lives. The project is co-designed with a group of young people with disability and young carers.
Young people with disability and young carers are invited to take part in the research by doing an online survey. The survey is open until June 20th 2025.
National Care and Support Sector Conference, 25th July 2025, Perth
This year's 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.
Australian Government consultation: Measuring the contribution of unpaid care in Australia
The Australian Bureau of Statistics' consultation on the best approach to measuring the labour contribution of unpaid carers is open until 28th February 2025.
Australian Government grant opportunity forecast: Mental Health Program, Medicare Mental Health Centres
The service will create a pool of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists to support the clinical capacity of Medicare Mental Health Centres as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Australian Government grant opportunity forecast: Mental Health Program, Postgraduate Psychology Incentive Program Round 2
The grant is intended to support higher education providers who have created additional postgraduate psychology places in courses which lead to general registration and relevant areas of practice endorsement.
Featured Members
Mental Health Foundation Australia
The Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) is a non-profit non-government organisation serving the community since 1930, promoting mental health awareness, advocacy, education, resilience, research and support in Australia. The MHFA aims to reduce stigma, provide resources, advocate for improved services, and offer programs for mental health understanding.
The MHFA is committed to empowering individuals to take proactive steps in caring for their mental health, seeking help when needed, and advocating for a mentally healthy society where everyone has access to the support, resources, and understanding they deserve.
Tandem is the trusted voice of family and friends in mental health in Victoria. We are the Victorian peak body representing organisations and individuals advocating for family and friends of people living with mental illness.
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