Weekly Update: Investing in mental health is essential to improving Australia’s productivity
14 August 2025CEO Message
Investing in mental health is essential to improving Australia’s productivity
Next week, leaders will gather in Canberra for the Economic Reform Roundtable, to discuss opportunities to improve economic productivity, build economic resilience and strengthen the federal budget. This will be a defining moment in the Treasurer’s second term, and is likely to inform the Albanese Government’s economic and fiscal agenda for the next few years.
There is a clear intersection between mental health and national productivity. Many of us spend around a third of our lives at work, and research has shown that investment in mental health in the workplace has a positive return on investment. Workplaces and communities that prioritise mental health, wellbeing, and prevention are integral to building a healthy, productive nation.
Indeed, when we cannot access safe and mentally healthy workplaces and communities, and when we don’t have access to the care, support and treatment we need, collectively we cannot hope to achieve our ambitions and goals, nor rise to meet the challenges of the day – from the exponential growth of artificial intelligence to ongoing cost-of-living pressures and housing unaffordability.
Examining the way governments invest in mental health is key to the discussion about strengthening our national productivity, particularly as rates of mental ill-health in Australia continue to rise. While mental health and substance use conditions are responsible for 15% of the total “burden of disease” in Australia, only 7% of government health expenditure is currently allocated to mental health.
The costs of mental ill-health and suicide to our community are stark, both economically, and in terms of our wellbeing. Conservative estimates put the financial loss at $70 billion per year, with the equivalent of a further $150 billion also lost in associated wellbeing.
To achieve the prosperity we want as a nation, and address growing rates of mental ill-health, overall funding for mental health needs to be boosted, and existing funding used more effectively.
Yesterday the Productivity Commission released their interim report on Delivering quality care more efficiently. This report proposed three key policy reform opportunities:
- Reforming quality and safety regulation to support a more cohesive care economy;
- Embedding collaborative commissioning to increase the integration of care services; and
- Developing a national framework to support government investment in prevention.
The Productivity Commission’s inquiry and recommendations point to the importance of investing in mental health, and the broader care economy, in different ways, to both improve efficiency and the quality of care.
As a starting point, Mental Health Australia’s Sector Sustainability Statement outlines seven easy-to-implement actions to improve the efficiency and efficacy of mental health funding.
As the broader debates about how to best boost our national productivity continue, it’s critical that both prevention and mental health care and supports are part of the conversation – through investing in mental health, we’ll not only improve our individual and collective wellbeing, but also deliver key productivity benefits for Australia.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
Mental Health Australia News
Member-only webinar opportunity: National Mental Health Commission Report Card
The National Mental Health Commission has released its 2024 National Report Card, examining the prevalence of mental health challenges, the drivers behind it and the performance of the mental health system.
Mental Health Australia members are invited to join Mental Health Australia CEO, Carolyn Nikoloski, with guest presenter, Commission CEO David McGrath, for a discussion of the data, themes and implications emerging from this year's report, and what the results mean for Australia’s mental health system moving forward.
This webinar is a member-only benefit.
Date: Friday 22nd August 2025
Time: 11:00pm AEST
Location: Online via Zoom
Registration is essential, learn more at the button below.
Mental Health News
Media release: Improving efficiency to deliver better care
The Australian Government should better align quality and safety regulation across the care economy, including through a national approach to screening care workers, the interim report of a Productivity Commission (PC) inquiry recommends. The interim report also recommends facilitating collaboration in the commissioning of care services and establishing a National Prevention Investment Framework to help stop health and other problems before they start or get worse. The report, Delivering quality care more efficiently, is the final of five that the PC has published over two weeks setting out practical reforms to boost Australia’s productivity.
Media release: Issues papers released ahead of economic reform roundtable
Treasurer the Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP announced the release of three issues papers ahead of the Albanese Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable from 19-21 August. The Roundtable is all about building consensus around reforms, the issues papers do the problem definition. Covering each of the three themes of the Economic Reform Roundtable – resilience, productivity, and budget sustainability and tax reform – the papers have been released to give participants the opportunity to engage with the issues in detail and build consensus before the Roundtable.
Media release: ACOSS calls for economic reforms to lift living standards
ACOSS is calling for an ambitious economic reform agenda to improve living standards for those falling behind. In its submission to the Economic Reform Roundtable, ACOSS urges the government to address the core problem of rising economic inequality as a drag on productivity, calling for tax reform to raise more revenue, reduce inequality and drive action to address climate change. The submission also urges the government to reform the way it funds community services and abandon the failed competitive tendering arrangements that undermine service quality, as evident in childcare, aged care and employment services.
Media release: Volunteers in over 3,800 organisations to get a helping hand
The Albanese Labor Government is bolstering its support for the nation's volunteering sector, with $9.5 million awarded through the 2024-25 Volunteer Grants round. The round provides community organisations (including mental health support groups) with funding to assist with the purchase of small equipment items, training, and background screening checks for volunteers. For the first time, eligible community organisations were able to allocate their funding towards insurance premiums.
Media release: Community Mental Health Australia submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) has provided a submission to the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. Developed in response to the Commission’s Interim Report, the submission reflects a coordinated effort across the community-managed mental health sector to ensure the sector’s diverse voices were captured and represented. CMHA also engaged directly with Mental Health Australia during the process, sharing reflections and identifying key points of alignment.
Media release: OTSi launches national Assessment Toolkit and Guideline to strengthen National Disability Insurance Scheme evidence and outcomes
The Occupational Therapy Society for Invisible Disability (OTSi) has released the OTSi
Assessment Toolkit and Guideline, a practical, evidence-based framework to help therapists deliver high-quality National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) assessments for people with disability, with a particular focus on psychosocial disability and autism. The toolkit addresses a critical need in the NDIS landscape: ensuring that functional capacity and support needs assessments are comprehensive, legislatively compliant, and truly reflect the support needs of people with psychosocial disability and/or autism.
(See media release attached.)
Media release: As simple as fruit bowls and yoga? Beyond Blue’s
new podcast gets real about mental health at work
Beyond Blue today launches its latest podcast, Think Again, with Beyond Blue. The first series will focus on workplace mental health, offering practical advice, information and strategies for senior leaders and managers. Across five episodes, Season One: Workplace offers fresh perspectives on the value of good job design, burnout and the rise of
workplace distraction, imposter syndrome, the rise of AI, executive wellbeing and ways to support mental health carers at work.
Media release: $1 million to drive more support for people with disability (NSW)
The Minns Labor Government has delivered over $1 million in grants to support people with disability across the state. Thirteen not-for-profit organisations will share in over $1 million through the 2024-25 Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP) grants. The funding will help to build the capacity of the sector, extend support to people not covered by the NDIS, and empower people with disability to participate more fully and confidently in community life.
Media release: New Tasmanian Government Ministry announced (TAS)
Two new members will join the Tasmanian Liberal Government Ministry, including Bridget Archer, who has been announced as the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Ageing.
Media release: Extending suicide-related support funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (ACT)
The ACT Government is committing more funding over the next two years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention, intervention, postvention and aftercare support. Thirrili, an Aboriginal and Torres Islander Community Controlled Organisation,
has received $1.52 million to help deliver culturally sensitive support to families, and to reduce suicide and the impacts of suicide in the ACT’s First Nations communities.
Media release: Support at home for Victorians with eating disorders (VIC)
The Allan Labor Government is making sure young Victorians living with an eating disorder get the care and support they need – delivering a new home-based treatment program in partnership with Alfred Health. The Eating Disorders Intensive at Home program offers short-term, intensive treatment for children and young people – and their families – across Melbourne’s south, providing an alternative to hospital admission or re-admission.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Australian Government consultation: Have your say on reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act
The Albanese 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).
The Government is now inviting people with disability, carers, families and kin, advocates, service providers, employers, unions, educational bodies, small business, legal professionals, academia and the broader community to participate and share their views.
The Issues Paper is accompanied by an Auslan video, Easy Read and plain English versions of the paper’s summary. There are options to share your views in ways that best suit you including a short community survey, written, audio or video submissions.
For more information about the review, and to access the review’s Issues Paper and have your say, visit the Attorney-General's Department website at the button below.
Submissions close 24th October 2025.
Australian Government consultation: Have your say on reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act
The Albanese 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).
The Government is now inviting people with disability, carers, families and kin, advocates, service providers, employers, unions, educational bodies, small business, legal professionals, academia and the broader community to participate and share their views.
The Issues Paper is accompanied by an Auslan video, Easy Read and plain English versions of the paper’s summary. There are options to share your views in ways that best suit you including a short community survey, written, audio or video submissions.
For more information about the review, and to access the review’s Issues Paper and have your say, visit the Attorney-General's Department website at the button below.
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.
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 takes 10-15 minutes to complete and is open until 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.
National Consumer Partnerships Manager
Use your lived experience of mental health challenges, and your knowledge of the mental health consumer movement, to amplify consumers' voices in this brand-new role based anywhere in Australia.
Applications close 8:00 AM AEST, 18th August 2025.
Canberra Health Service: Manager of Peer Services (designated lived experience role)
Canberra Health Service is looking for a lived experience leader to help shape and lead peer-led mental health services.
Applications close 24th August 2025.
Featured Members
RACGP - The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is Australia’s largest professional general practice organisation and represents urban and rural general practitioners. The RACGP’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of all people in Australia by supporting GPs, general practice registrars and medical students through its principal activities of education, training and research and by assessing doctors’ skills and knowledge, supplying ongoing professional development activities, developing resources and guidelines, helping GPs with issues that affect their practice, and developing standards that general practices use to ensure high quality healthcare.
Juno
Juno (formerly known as WISHIN) works with women and gender diverse people in Melbourne’s north who are experiencing homelessness or family violence. Juno supports a diverse range of women, including those experiencing complex challenges such as poverty, trauma, mental ill-health or experience with the justice system.
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