Increasing NGO data in the National Report Card: Report

Mental Health Australia was pleased to work with the National Mental Health Commission in 2025-26 to explore opportunities to improve representation of non-government (NGO) services in the Commission’s National Report Card, which monitors national mental health system performance. 

NGOs provide essential mental health supports across Australia. Yet despite their significant role, NGOs are almost entirely absent from existing national mental health system reporting. 

To better understand the current NGO data landscape and identify opportunities to strengthen the visibility of NGO services in national reporting, Mental Health Australia conducted a desktop review and targeted stakeholder consultations. Findings and recommendations were further tested and refined through a sector-wide webinar.

This report outlines key findings and recommendations to support the inclusion of NGO services in the National Report Card and inform longer-term reforms to strengthen the collection, reporting and visibility of NGO mental health activity and outcomes data across Australia.

This report was created by Mental Health Australia for the National Mental Health Commission.

You can read the National Mental Health Commission’s National Report Card, here.

Final Project Report is available at the button below.