CEO Update: Out of step with community expectations – the Federal Budget has left mental health behind
27 March 2025
CEO Message
Out of step with community expectations: the Federal Budget has left mental health behind
It was deeply disappointing to see mental health left behind in this week’s 2025-26 Federal Budget. The Government made no serious commitment to improving access to mental health supports, at a time when we are facing enormous pressures on our collective mental health and wellbeing.
While this Budget was always going to be seen through the lens of the forthcoming election, it nonetheless represents a missed opportunity to improve the accessibility and affordability of mental health care in Australia.
Mental Health Australia welcomes the Government’s broader investments to strengthen Medicare, boost the primary care workforce and improve the affordability of medicines – these are important and significant commitments. However affordable and accessible mental health support must not end on the other side of the GP’s door.
Recent Mental Health Australia-commissioned polling shows that 75% of Australian voters believe the government should do more on mental health, and 63% of them would be more likely to vote for parties and candidates who make real commitments to make mental health support accessible.
Piecemeal investments in mental health are out of step with the level of reform and commitment that the Australian community expects.
With young people experiencing particularly stark increases in distress, we cannot afford to leave any barriers in their path to support and care. Australia needs ambitious mental health investment and reform which, if delivered, could change the trajectory for a generation of Australians.
Our sector must continue to be driven by the needs of the community, and work together to focus on both preventing mental health conditions and ensuring that all people in Australia can access mental health supports when they need it, particularly during this cost-of-living crisis.
As the focus now shifts to the upcoming Federal Election, Mental Health Australia will continue to pursue commitments from all sides of politics to deliver pathways to accessible, affordable mental health care at a time when Australia needs it most.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
Media release: Mental health left behind in Federal Government’s pre-election budget pitch
The 2025-26 Federal Budget shows no commitment to improving access to mental health supports for the Australian community. Australia is facing enormous pressures on our collective mental health and wellbeing.
“Despite the rising need for greater investment in mental health, this budget suggests that mental health is far from the front of this government’s mind” says Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski.
Mental Health News
Federal Budget 2025-26
Sector responses:
- Australian Association of Psychologists Inc: Psychologists slam Budget for abandoning mental health
- Australian Counselling Assocation: 2025-26 Federal Budget – A missed opportunity for mental health
- Australian Psychological Society: Mental health neglected in this year’s Federal Budget
- batyr: batyr’s Response to the Federal Budget 2025-2026
- Black Dog Institute: What’s in the Federal Budget for mental health?
- Dementia Australia: Australia's second biggest killer largely missing in Budget
- Fortem Australia: Federal Budget falls short on mental health support for first responders (see media release attached)
- National Rural Health Alliance: City-focused, country-funded – a budget that forgets its backbone
- People with Disability Australia: Federal Budget 2025 – People with disability invisible in key budget measures but funding for disability supports a start
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: Budget shows critical importance of general practice care
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists: Budget leaves mental health in limbo
- Suicide Prevention Australia: Federal Budget fails to back National Suicide Prevention Strategy
Related news:
- Interview transcripts – Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP: ABC Radio National, 27th March 2025; ABC Radio Adelaide, 26th March 2025
- Article: Federal budget 2025 – How mental health was ‘neglected’, Herald Sun, 26th March 2025
Other News
Media release: A Dutton Coalition Government will boost headspace mental health support in Parramatta
A Dutton Coalition Government will invest $5 million to upgrade headspace Parramatta and ensure young Australians living in Western Sydney have better access to the mental health services they deserve. Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of the Coalition’s highest priorities.
Media release: Griefline helpline saved – for now. Why we must keep fighting for grief support.
With just 24 hours to go before its scheduled closure, Griefline received confirmation that the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, had agreed to provide additional funding for our Helpline to continue operating in 2024-25.
Joint statement: Call to protect disability access to assistance animals
Twelve organisations led by the Australian Autism Alliance released a joint statement calling for critical reform through the establishment of a National Assistance Animal Framework to meet the needs of people with disability, and remove inequitable access barriers.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
New insights available from Australia’s largest workplace mental health survey
Superfriend has released the results of its 2024 Indicators of a Thriving Workplace study. The results highlight the evolving pressures faced by workers across different industries, and reinforce the need for proactive and sustained mental health support.
Superfriend's recorded webinar unpacking the report findings with SuperFriend’s Dr Natalie Flatt and Associate Professor Ross Iles is available here.
Neami National services accredited by national Suicide Prevention Standards
Five Neami National programs have been accredited by the national Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement. Accreditation acknowledges these programs as being safe, as integrating lived and living experience and for the strength of their collaborations and partnerships:
- The Way Back – Western Sydney and Central and Eastern Sydney regions
- Perth Metro Suicide Prevention Coordination
- Strathpine Safe Space
- Reach Out and Connect Suicide Awareness Training.
Learn more at the Neami website.
Neami Employment Support Service: enrolments now open
The Neami Employment Support Service (NESS) is a specialised employment program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, offering free short-term support for people whose experience of employment has been impacted by mental health challenges to feel better prepared for the workplace.
The program is flexible in its delivery and designed to support people seeking:
- to increase their confidence and resilience
- to develop essential employment skills
- strategies to manage mental health while navigating the workforce.
Enrolments are now open for people aged 16 to 65. Applicants can learn more or register their interest here.
Spread the word: Carers Australia's Carer Wellbeing Survey 2025
Carers across Australia are invited to share their lived experiences in Carer's Australia's annual carer wellbeing survey. This year, in addition to asking about carer well-being, the survey includes questions about accessing respite care, being a young carer or a carer in a defence family, and life after a caring role ends.
The survey is open until April 30th, 2025.
Please share the survey link at the button below with your networks.
Neighbour Day 2025 this Sunday
Relationships Australia is calling for everyone to mark their calendars for Neighbour Day, .
Neighbour Day this Sunday, 30th March 2025 is Relationships Australia’s annual call-to-action and everyone is invited to celebrate and strengthen community connections.
This year's challenge is to extend our concept of "neighbour" beyond just those next door to embrace the diverse connections that enrich our lives and communities.
Find resources and more at the button below.
World Bipolar Day 2025 this Sunday
Observed on the 30th of March each year, World Bipolar Day is a day for connection, outreach and coming together in solidarity around the goal of increasing awareness, acceptance and funding for bipolar disorder.
This year's core initiative is Blow Bubbles for Bipolar, giving everyone affected by the condition a fun and easy activity that can be used to celebrate the occasion with colleagues, friends, and family.
Webinar: Improving your practice – Working across sectors
The Mental Health Professionals' Network invites practitioners to see four esteemed practitioners respond in-situ to hypothetical scenarios about people living with diverse, changing and complex needs.
With no advance briefings about each scenario, the panel will respond "on the spot”, demonstrating the strategies they’d employ to overcome challenges and work together to provide support, treatment and care.
Moderated by Dr Ruth Vine, the panel comprises Dr Paul Fung (Psychiatrist), Dr Michael Tam (GP), Tracey Hocking (Social Worker) and Margaret Foulds (Psychologist).
Date: Monday 31st March 2025
Time: 7:00pm (AEDT)
Location: Online via Zoom
Expressions of interest invited for the National Suicide Prevention Office Lived Experience Partnership Group
The National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) is calling for expressions of interest from people with lived and living experience of suicide to join its new Lived Experience Partnership Group.
The NSPO has established the group to ensure people with a lived and living experience of suicide oversee the work of the NSPO, how it engages with people with lived and living experience and the advice it provides Government.
Before applying, candidates should review the readiness to be involved in suicide prevention resource created by Roses in the Ocean.
The expression of interest opportunity is open until midnight 13th April 2025.
Webinar: From Research to Practice – A Journey into Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Emerging Career Paths
Mind Medicine Australia invites students, clinicians, mental health professionals, Allied Health workers or anyone interested in learning more about Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (PAT) to this free online event.
Join Mind Medicine Australia's world-renowned faculty and experts for insights into integrating science, holistic healing, and innovative mental health care models, in areas including translating scientific research into clinical practice, foundational skills, emerging pathways and opportunities and future directions in PAT.
Date: Wednesday 16th April 2025
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Online
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.
Early bird registrations now open: Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference and Exhibition, 25th-27th June 2025, Adelaide
Occupational Therapists (OTs) play a critical role in Australia’s healthcare system, supporting individuals across Mental Health, Primary Care, Disability, and Rehabilitation services.
This conference provides OTs with valuable opportunities to advance their knowledge, strengthen professional networks, and enhance the care they provide. The program brings together leading experts to discuss the latest developments in Disability, Mental Health, Women’s Health, Veteran Care, and more.
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.
Featured Members
mindgardens Neuroscience Network
Mindgardens Neuroscience Network is a membership organisation comprising the University of NSW, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), Black Dog Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). Mindgardens was established to improve the lives of people who experience mental illness, drug and alcohol and neurological disorders. Focused on real-world challenges, Mindgardens changes the way healthcare services are designed and delivered by bringing together people with lived experience with clinicians, researchers and health system managers to co-design new models of care and bring about real system change with rapid and demonstrable results.
Allied Health Professions Australia
Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) is the recognised national voice for allied health professions which provide crucial support for people experiencing disability, chronic illness, mental ill health and a wide range of other health issues. Allied health professionals represent almost a third of the country’s health care workforce and deliver over 200 million health services annually. Some of our professions are primarily involved in providing care and support in the mental health space both in terms of psychological and physical therapies, others less so, but all interact with those encountering mental health challenges at some stage. Mental Health is indeed everyone’s business and allied health are keenly aware of this. We strongly advocate for improved access to necessary allied health treatment especially those who suffer disadvantage.
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