CEO Update: Working together to build an equitable and culturally responsive mental health system
21 March 2025
CEO Message
I am currently on a short period of leave. I am delighted that Michelle Possingham, Mental Health Australia's Director of Programs, has stepped in to the role of Acting CEO while I am away.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
CEO Update: Working together to build an equitable and culturally responsive mental health system
Today, we mark International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and reflect on the progress made against racial discrimination – and the ongoing challenges faced in the fight against it. We also celebrate Harmony Week (17th-23rd March) and the theme ‘Everyone Belongs’.
Racial discrimination and its negative effects significantly impact mental health, and in this time of increasing global uncertainty and fragmentation, there has never been a more important time for inclusive, equitable approaches to mental health care and support.
In a recent report, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) made a strong case for the criticality of a National Anti-Racism Framework, to achieve the system changes needed to address institutional and everyday racism, advocate for human rights protections, and promote equity for multicultural communities in Australia.
Delivered by Mental Health Australia in partnership with FECCA, and National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA), and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project (the Embrace Project) aims to ensure that the needs of mental health consumers and carers from multicultural backgrounds are better understood and met.
A vital partner in the delivery of the Embrace Project is the Embrace Lived Experience Group, who provide important and diverse, lived and living perspectives from mental health consumers and carers from CALD backgrounds. This week, the Embrace Project Team came together with the Embrace Lived Experience Group to consider how to best strengthen the mental health system to ensure it is responsive to people from multicultural backgrounds.
A vision for a culturally inclusive mental health system that supports the needs of Australia’s diverse communities is at the centre of the work of the Embrace Project.
Challenging discrimination and naming the problem of racism are key to ensuring diverse communities feel a sense of belonging and value.
Each year, Harmony Week is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate our diversity – and call out discrimination.
As FECCA’s report highlights, racism is pervasive - so today, this week, tomorrow, and every day is a great time to reaffirm a shared commitment to equality and to continue efforts to eliminate it in all its forms.
We will continue to work with our community partners and the mental health and suicide prevention sectors to improve access to culturally responsive care, services and supports, while empowering multicultural communities to look after their mental health and wellbeing as Australia strives to become a more inclusive and equitable society.
Michelle Possingham
Acting CEO, Mental Health Australia
Mental Health News
Media release: Youth mental health leaders unite for six-point plan to end inaction
Australia’s leading youth mental health organisations including headspace, batyr, ReachOut Australia, Prevention United, ARACY, Black Dog Institute, Mission Australia, Youth Focus and yourtown, have joined forces on a six-point plan as new polling shows Australians want action. Read the joint statement on youth mental health priorities.
Media release: Major coalition – Urgent mental health help needed in agriculture
A major coalition has sent a powerful message calling for immediate action to address the mental health crisis in agriculture. More than 30 rural and healthcare organisations including Lifeline have joined forces for the first time to launch a joint statement to address the crisis disproportionally affecting people in agriculture. Ahead of a federal budget and election, the coalition is calling on the Government to make an immediate investment of $50 million over five years to address the crisis.
Media release: Urgent action required on mental health in agriculture, with climate change a key factor
Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) welcomed the joint statement from the National Farmers Federation urging immediate action on mental health in rural communities, but said excluding climate change from a mental health discussion about farming ignores the scientific reality.
Speech transcript: Federal Treasurer, Queensland Media Club, 18th March 2025
The Federal Treasurer, the Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP, discussed the Government's Federal Budget priorities, including strengthening Medicare, investment in women's health and funding more urgent care clinics, and Coalition policies.
Media release: Griefline slated to close due to mental health funding uncertainty under Labor
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, said the Albanese Labor Government’s last-minute backflip on funding cuts to 13 mental health organisations has done little to resolve the ongoing uncertainty threatening critical services. Griefline is still set to close next week, despite clear commitments made during Senate Estimates, in which Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, representing the Minister for Health, assured funding would be reinstated for multiple mental health services, including Griefline.
Media release: Works to start on new northern eating disorder facility
Tasmania's Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Roger Jaensch, and Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler, said construction is about to begin on the first dedicated Tasmanian Eating Disorder Services (TEDS) facility for Northern Tasmania. The project is being jointly funded from $2.5 million committed by the Australian Government and $825,000 by the Tasmanian Government. Once complete, TEDS North will deliver Community Based Intensive Treatment, including specialist individual therapy along with day and evening programs, for the treatment of eating disorders in a home-like environment.
Media release: Labor delivering a stronger and fairer National Disability Insurance Scheme
The Albanese Labor Government's significant reforms and investment have put the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) back on track. Minister for Social Services and the NDIS, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, said the Government is making changes to ensure every dollar allocated to NDIS participants reaches them and is spent in a meaningful way that makes a difference in their lives.
Media release: Supporting strong community houses and boosting access to government services
Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, said more vulnerable Australians will soon have better access to essential government services and programs that build their social connections within their own communities with the Government investing $989,000 to bolster neighbourhood houses, neighbourhood centres and community centres.
Media release: Medibank to invest $50 million into mental health
Medibank announced it is investing $50 million over the next five years into mental health, with the aim of improving access, innovation and prevention for its customers, as it takes on its responsibility to be a leader in mental health. It will establish research collaborations to increase access to innovative models of care, give its customers more choice when it comes to mental health providers, and unlock a range of new mental fitness prevention initiatives to keep customers well.
Media release: Lifeline Australia welcomes Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC as new patron
Lifeline Australia is honoured to announce the appointment of Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, as its new Patron. Ms Mostyn has extensive experience in the mental health sector, having undertaken leadership roles with major organisations including Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, the National Mental Health Commission, Beyond Blue, Reconciliation Australia and the Foundation for Young Australians.
Media release: Watering down protections no solution to workplace mental health crisis
Australians for Mental Health expressed its dismay over a planned watering down of workers compensation rights in New South Wales, amid a rise in workplace psychological injuries. The State Government has released details about the alarming rise in workers compensation claims associated with psychological injury, and some concerning proposals that would make it harder for workers to seek redress for injuries sustained at work.
Media release: Mental health pilot success for older Australians
A recent pilot of an innovative approach to managing depression and anxiety in older Australians has delivered promising results, demonstrating the importance of investing in mental health care to improve overall health. Enhanced Management of home-Based Elders with Depression (EMBED) was piloted in Victoria in 2024 and aims to improve the detection and treatment of depression among older people receiving aged care at home. The results follow a study published in the Australian Journal on Ageing last month, which found 60 per cent of older Australians receiving in home aged care have symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Webinar: Culturally Responsive Mental Health Services
The Embrace Multicultural Mental Health team invites mental health service professionals and individual practitioners seeking practical skills and insights to working with clients from refugee and multicultural backgrounds to join their upcoming webinar: Delivering Safe, Quality, and Culturally Responsive Mental Health Services.
The session will include a deep dive into Module 2 of the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia, ensuring cultural responsiveness in service access and delivery, the principles of Equitable Access and Service Delivery and a case study to demonstrate these principles in action. Manager of the NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Maria Cassaniti, will share her clinical expertise and real-world insights into culturally responsive care.
If you have any questions, or require further information, please contact the Embrace team at multicultural@mhaustralia.org.
Date: Wednesday 26th March 2025
Time: 1:00-2:00pm (AEDT)
Location: Online via Zoom
World Bipolar Day fundraiser – Saturday 29th March 2025
It's the last week to book your tickets for Bipolar Australia's fundraising event in Sydney on Saturday 29th March. Tickets, sponsorships and donations are tax deductible, with concession-priced tickets available.
Date: Saturday 29th March 2025
Time: 5:00-7:00pm (AEDT)
Location: Sydney Masonic Centre, Corner Castlereagh and Goulburn streets, Sydney
World Bipolar Day 2025 – Sunday 30th March 2025
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.
Learn more about World Bipolar Day 2025 and how to get involved here.
Coming soon: Neighbour Day 2025
Relationships Australia is calling for everyone to mark their calendars for Neighbour Day, Sunday, 30th March 2025.
This is Relationships Australia’s annual call-to-action, inviting everyone to celebrate and strengthen community connections. It's an opportunity to create, share, and grow belonging in your own unique way through a BBQ, street party, or by reaching out to someone new.
Every action, big or small, contributes to building more resilient and supportive neighbourhoods. 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. Join us in fostering lasting, respectful relationships that make a difference every day of the year – and grow belonging this Neighbour Day!
Find resources and more at the button below.
Enrolments open for the Neami Employment Support Service
Neami National supports people to achieve the wellbeing and mental health outcomes that matter to them, providing more than 70 services across Australia supporting mental health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness, and suicide prevention.
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.
The NESS team brings expertise from mental health and employment services to support participants to recognise their strengths, and seek and maintain employment that fits their personality, values, passions and individual mental health needs.
Enrolments are now open for people aged 16 to 65. Applicants can learn more or register their interest at the button below.
Spread the word: Carer Wellbeing Survey 2025
Carers across Australia are invited to share their experiences in Carers Australia's annual Carer Wellbeing Survey.
Carers voices matter! Carers are invited to share their lived experiences so Carers Australia can better advocate for the support services that will improve the lives of carers.
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 has been developed by the University of Canberra’s WellRes Unit, Health Research Institute, Department of Social Services, and Carers Australia.
Please share the survey link at the button below with your networks.
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 2020
Time: 7:00pm (AEDT)
Location: Online via Zoom
Learn more about the session’s panel and learning outcomes at the button below.
Webinar available for purchase and viewing: Bethany Brand Masterclass
The Australian Society for Psychological Medicine is offering its recent Bethany Brand Masterclass for purchasing and viewing until 5th April 2025.
Bethany has been instrumental in the work and understanding of Trauma and Dissociation. The webinar follows the release of her world-first evidence-based Dissociation Treatment Program: Finding Solid Ground study.
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.
The group meets with the NSPO monthly and also contributes to the work of the NSPO on an ad-hoc basis.
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.
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 play a critical role in Australia’s healthcare system, supporting individuals across Mental Health, Primary Care, Disability, and Rehabilitation services.
This conference will provide them with valuable opportunities to advance their knowledge, strengthen professional networks, and enhance the care they provide to the community. 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
Mind Australia
Mind Australian Limited (Mind) is one of the country’s leading community-managed specialised mental health service providers. We have been supporting people who are dealing with the day-to-day impacts of mental ill-health, as well as their families, friends and carers for 40 years. Our staff deliver a range of services and supports to people challenged by mental ill-health. In the last financial year, Mind provided over 400,000 hours of recovery focused, person centred support service to over 9,000 people, including residential rehabilitation, personalised support, youth services, family carer services and care coordination. Mind also operates as a provider of services and supports to individuals who have NDIS funding packages in multiple locations across Australia. We also work with people to address poverty, housing, education and employment. It is an approach to mental health and wellbeing that looks at the whole person in the context of their daily life, and focuses on the social determinants of mental health, as they play out in people’s lives. We value lived experience and diversity and many of our staff identify as having a lived experience of mental ill-health. Mind significantly invests in research about mental health recovery and psychosocial disability and shares this knowledge, developing evidence informed new service models, evaluating outcomes, and providing training for peer workers and mental health professionals. We also advocate for, and campaign on basic human rights for everyone; constantly challenging the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health issues.
ACT Mental Health Consumer Network
The ACT Mental Health Consumer Network is a consumer-led peak organisation representing the interests of mental health consumers in the ACT in policy and decision-making forums. The Network is committed to social justice and the inclusion of people with experience of mental illness. Their aim is to bring about a higher standard of health care in the mental health sector through representation, lobbying and active involvement in new developments in the mental health sector.
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