Weekly Update: Building proud futures for generations to come
28 August 2025
CEO Message
Building proud futures for generations to come
This week I am delighted to be attending Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia’s National Conference in Garramilla (Darwin), on the lands of the Larrakia people.
This year’s theme, “Proud Futures”, recognises and celebrates the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in championing the next generation, by celebrating identity, being strong in self-determination and creating a future legacy for cultural continuity for the next 65,000-plus years.
The program has ignited deep conversation, providing perspectives on the current and future policy environment, how it affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), mental health and suicide prevention, and the role of allies in First Nations advocacy for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This year’s conference marks 10 years since the launch of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration, a nationally endorsed commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, cultural safety, SEWB, mental health and suicide prevention outcomes.
The Declaration and accompanying Implementation Plan outlines five themes to achieve the best possible mental health and SEWB system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the goals and strategies to achieve them. It is a call to action for everyone who calls Australia home, not only because of the historical injustices that have occurred on this land, but because the equal opportunity to achieve the highest attainable mental wellbeing is a human right.
It sets out a vision for leadership, cultural safety and accountability across the whole mental health system – not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations.
Tomorrow, I will join a panel discussion about what genuine allyship looks like when mainstream organisations commit to the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration, and the role mainstream organisations and leaders can play in building Proud Futures.
Being an ally needs to move beyond just statements of support. For us at Mental Health Australia, it’s about really listening to what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations are saying; supporting their advocacy asks; providing the time and space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organisations to be heard; and using our influence to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities’ priorities. It also means embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and expertise in governance, shifting power and resources, and holding ourselves to account for the commitments we make.
At Mental Health Australia, we have embedded the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration into the reconciliation commitments we have made in our recently-released Reconciliation Action Plan, which you can read here.
We will continue to learn and explore ways we can show leadership and support as an ally, which is part of the shared responsibility we all have for building Proud Futures for generations to come.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
Mental Health News
Transcript: Debate on motion moved on mental health, House of Representatives, August 25th 2025
Transcript of debate on the motion on mental health, moved by Ms Rachel Coffey MP, Member for Griffith.
Media release: Nothing about us, without us – Joint statement: Disability Representative Organisations
Disability Representative Organisations stand united in our reiteration to government of nothing about us without us. While Minister Mark Butler noted nothing about us without us in his speech at the National Press Club, the announcements made by the Minister came as a surprise to the disability community and representative organisations, creating further uncertainty for our community. We are heartened by the Government’s continued commitment to the NDIS, which has changed the lives of people with disability around Australia. However, we are collectively disappointed that the government chose not to engage with the disability community about their announcement.
Media release: Thriving Kids – No child should fall through the cracks
Speech Pathology Week highlights the life-changing power of communication and the critical role speech pathologists play in enabling it. Under the theme of "Impact Through Communication," the week celebrates the connections, confidence and independence speech pathologists foster for the 1.2 million Australians living with communication needs. The federal government’s Thriving Kids program gives added urgency to Speech Pathology Australia’s message: no child with developmental delay or disability should fall through the cracks.
Media release: Family and child health nurses poised to support families in Thriving Kids program with necessary reforms
The Australian College of Nursing says family and child health and school nurses across Australia must be enabled to play a key role in the Federal Government’s $2 billion Thriving Kids program, following the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler’s speech outlining major reforms to support children with developmental needs.
Media release: SSI calls for inclusion of CALD families' needs in Thriving Kids program
Leading refugee resettlement and multicultural services provider SSI has welcomed the announcement of the new Thriving Kids program but encouraged the government to ensure culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children with disability and their families were included in the program’s design, implementation and monitoring. SSI Executive General Manager Service Delivery Eric Harper said it was critical to include CALD children with disability to ensure no child was left behind. Mr Harper said SSI's A Strong Start Policy Brief – based on joint SSI/UniSA Stronger Starts Brighter Futures II research – found that Australian children from CALD backgrounds were already disadvantaged in relation to early interventions for developmental delays and autism.
Media release: Orygen releases new 11-point plan for young men’s mental health
Rigid notions of manhood are stopping young men from seeking help for mental ill-health, and current systems are failing to provide support that meets their needs. To address this gap, Orygen has released a new report and 11-point policy plan, Real talk: masculinity and young men’s mental health. The plan sets out practical steps to improve mental health outcomes for young men, including updating the National Men’s Health Strategy, building the capacity of health professionals, and investing in new opportunities for social connection.
Media release: New Connected Community School trial to commence in 2026 (WA)
Four Western Australian public schools have been selected for a transformative four-year trial that will connect students and families with greater wellbeing supports and wider health, community and social networks. The Connected Community School trial – funded under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement with the Albanese Labor Government – aims to ensure families can easily access community health and social services, while improving students' educational and wellbeing outcomes beyond the classroom.
Media release: Work underway on Peel mental health and eating disorder clinic (WA)
Construction is underway on a new $18.1 million facility for the Peel Community Mental Health Service (PCMHS) and Kara Maar Specialist Community Eating Disorder Service (SCEDS) in Greenfields, near Mandurah as part of the Peel Health Campus redevelopment. The project marks a major step forward in improving access to mental health and eating disorder support in Western Australia and will provide outpatient, day and community-based treatment in a purpose-built facility, which will be embedded in the community rather than linked to a hospital.
Media release: Creating safe, connected communities: Suicide Prevention Grant recipients announced (NT)
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has awarded $258,000 to 28 projects across the Territory under the 2025-26 Northern Territory Suicide Prevention Community Grants. The grants, ranging from $500 to $10,000, empower non-government organisations and community members to deliver vital, locally driven suicide prevention projects across the Territory.
Media release: WRAD supporting South-West Victorians for 40 Years (VIC)
The Allan Labor Government is proud to support WRAD, a trusted service that for four decades has been helping south west Victorians through alcohol, drug and mental health recovery. Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt and Member for Western Victoria Region Jacinta Ermacora today visited the Western Region Alcohol and Drug (WRAD) Centre in Warrnambool, which has been supporting individuals and families across the region for more than 40 years. WRAD delivers a wide range of alcohol and other drug (AOD) and
mental health services. These include counselling, withdrawal support, pharmacotherapy, family support programs, peer work, workforce training and community education.
Media release: Hamilton welcomes new mental health and wellbeing service (VIC)
The Allan Labor Government is making sure communities in Victoria’s south-west have the mental health facilities they deserve, with the new state-of-the-art $3.4 million Hamilton Mental Health and Wellbeing Service now officially open. Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt today toured the new centre, which was delivered through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) – the largest program of its kind in Victoria. Located in the heart of Hamilton, the purpose-built centre provides a safe, welcoming and therapeutic space for people to access mental health care close to home. It is home to South-West Healthcare’s community-based mental health services, offering assessment, treatment, counselling and
support for individuals, families and carers.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Strengthening Intersectionality and Diversity of the Lived Experience Workforce grants
Mental Health Victoria has announced applications for the Strengthening Intersectionality and Diversity of the Lived and Living Experience Workforce (SID-LLEW) grants program are now open.
Grants of up to $5,000 are available for training or courses that promote knowledge, skills and leadership. People who are intentionally wanting to use an intersectional lens in their work are encouraged to apply, including lived and living experience workers from diverse communities and people from diverse communities with lived and living experuence of mental health or alcohol and other drug challenges looking to explore working from a lived and living experience lens. Grant recipients will also co-design a Community of Practice in 2026 to connect, share, and learn together.
Applications close 12:00pm, Friday 12th September 2025.
Grant opportunity: Medical Research Future Fund – Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative
The Medical Research Future Fund – 2025 Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles Grant Opportunity supports research into new ways to address preventive and public health issues in Australia with a targeted/restricted competitive grant round.
The round includes three research streams focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of Australians, in areas including improving the prevention and management of perinatal mental ill-health.
This grant opportunity is administered by NHMRC on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Learn more about eligibility to apply at MRFF Eligible Organisations | NHMRC.
Applications close 3rd December 2025.
Supporting local communities: the R U OK? Conversation Convoy
The R U OK? Conversation Convoy travels to regional communities around the country to help Australians understand the important role they can play in looking out for their friends, family and colleagues. Learn more about the Convoy below, including a schedule of public events and resources to help support local communities.
Expressions of interest are invited from towns interested in hosting a Conversation Convoy event. Expressions of interest can be left here.
Learn more about the Conversation Convoy below.
Release of the Australian Suicide Prevention Planning Model (AuSPPM)
Version 1 of the Australian Suicide Prevention Planning Model (AuSPPM) has been released and is available on the Life in Mind website.
AuSPPM is a national framework for estimating the optimal levels of support and resourcing required to meet the suicide prevention service needs of the Australian population. The model has been developed by the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research at the University of Queensland, with funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing as part of the Lifeways consortium led by the University of Melbourne. The model is designed to bring together evidence on service needs to inform population planning for suicide prevention programs and services.
The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research will present a one-hour information session on the new model, including a panel discussion about how the model might be used to inform policy and planning.
Date: Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Time: 1:00-2:00pm AEST
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Register at the button below.
Australian Government consultation: Have your say on reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act
The Australian Government has released an Issues Paper to seek views on reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, as well as other opportunities to clarify and strengthen protections for people with disability. This is part of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission).
People with disability, carers, families and kin, advocates, service providers, employers, unions, educational bodies, small business, legal professionals, academia and the broader community are invited to participate and share their views. Share your views in a short community survey, written, audio or video submission.
Submissions close 24th October 2025.
Online survey: Co-design of an expert AI chatbot
The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre is recruiting young people aged 18-30 years to take part in an online survey. The results of the survey will inform the co-design of an expert AI chatbot to deliver specialist assessment and personalised care planning and coordination.
Access the survey at the button below or contact Dr Adam Poulsen (adam.poulsen@sydney.edu.au) for more information.
Closing soon! 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. 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 closes 31st August 2025.
Everymind Prevention in Practice Summit 2025
The Prevention in Practice Summit 2025 is a one-day summit focused on bridging the knowledge-to-practice gap in the prevention of mental ill-health.
Job Opportunities
Chief Executive Officer
Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is recruiting for a Chief Executive Officer. Leverage business acumen and lived experience to advocate, unlock opportunities, and influence systemic reform, improving outcomes for individuals with high need mental health challenges, and their families. For more information about MIFA, visit www.mifa.org.au.
Learn more about the role at the button below.
Featured Members
Rural and Remote Mental Health
Rural and Remote Mental Health (RRMH): For over 12 years now, Rural and Remote Mental Health (RRMH) has been delivering mental health programs and services to people living and working in rural and remote Australia. RRMH champions proactive and preventative initiatives for rural and remote communities. They demonstrate a commitment to practical outcomes by focusing on early intervention, the identification of problems on the horizon and the prevention of them where possible. Their three key programs are: • Resource Minds – for the mining, quarrying, resources and remote construction sector • Deadly Thinking – for Indigenous communities • Rural Minds – for agricultural and farming communities.
Lived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN)
LELAN is the independent peak body in South Australia by, for and with people with lived experience of mental distress, social issues or injustice. Our purpose is to amplify the voice, influence and leadership of people with lived experience to drive systemic change. LELAN’s systemic advocacy targets the mental health and social sectors in South Australia, whilst our thought leadership and expertise on lived experience expertise and leadership is borderless.
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