News from the CEO: 2025
Weekly Update: Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day – a time to connect with your community for good mental health
9 October 2025
Tomorrow, Friday 10 October, is World Mental Health Day, a day of global reflection on the importance of strong mental health across our communities. Mental Health Australia’s theme for World Mental Health Day this year is “Connect with your community”, in recognition of the important role social connection plays in supporting our mental health and wellbeing.
Read moreWeekly Update: Psychosocial supports – a path forward to address unmet needs
2 October 2025
Psychosocial supports are a critical component of our mental health system – and unfortunately, an area where there are significant gaps in our system. Last year Governments released a report which showed that almost 500,000 people who need access to psychosocial supports are missing out. Despite calls from the mental health sector to act, we haven’t yet seen the leadership and investments needed from Australian governments to respond to this high level of need.
Read moreWeekly Update: Measuring what matters for a better future
25 September 2025
Last week, the Federal Government released the second annual update to its Measuring What Matters dashboard. Measuring What Matters is Australia’s first wellbeing framework. It tracks Australia’s prog…
Read moreWeekly Update: It’s time for a greater focus on the prevention of mental ill-health
18 September 2025
Next week, I will join mental health policy, research and practice advocates and leaders at Everymind’s Prevention in Practice Summit 2025 in Sydney. The Summit is focused on bridging the knowledge-to-practice gap in the prevention of mental ill-health.
Read moreWeekly Update: Changing the narrative
11 September 2025
Many of you will be undertaking activities this week to acknowledge World Suicide Prevention Day and this year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative”. Others will take time to pause and reflect. The theme for 2025 is a powerful reminder that we must move from silence and shame toward openness, empathy and support.
Read moreWeekly Update: Community voices and clear sector solutions: mental health on Parliament’s agenda
5 September 2025
I was heartened to see that mental health was firmly on the agenda in Parliament last week as MPs returned to Canberra for week two of the Spring sitting. Following recent, extensive national discussions about Australia’s productivity, inaugural speeches and parliamentary debate provided opportunities for members and senators to share personal and community perspectives on mental health and the role affordable, reliable and compassionate care plays in building mentally healthy communities.
Read moreWeekly Update: Building proud futures for generations to come
28 August 2025
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.
Read moreCEO Update: Timing is key – the case for a new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement in 2026
21 August 2025
Yesterday, I addressed a public hearing into the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. It was an opportunity to reiterate opportunities to improve the Agreement, as set out in Mental Health Australia’s submission in response to the Commission’s interim report, and informed by our consultation with members.
Read moreWeekly Update: Investing in mental health is essential to improving Australia’s productivity
14 August 2025
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.
Read moreWeekly Update: This week is Loneliness Awareness Week – let's make moments matter
7 August 2025
Young people aged 16 – 25 are feeling increasingly lonely, and it’s impacting their mental health and wellbeing. Pressures like the cost of living, a lack community spaces and major life events are all contributing to young people feeling disconnected.
Read moreWeekly Update: A “fair go” for everyone – equity cannot be overlooked in mental health reform
1 August 2025
CEO Message A “fair go” for everyone – equity cannot be overlooked in mental health reform The National Mental Health Commission’s latest National Report Card is a welcome and importan…
Read moreCEO Update: A call to action on child and youth mental health
25 July 2025
Children and young people in Australia are experiencing mental ill-health at never-before seen levels. At the recent Health and Mental Health Ministers meeting, Ministers acknowledged the importance of improving the mental health of children and young people. In particular, Ministers supported a renewed focus on the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and agreed to prioritise children and young people in the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
Read moreCEO Update: Balancing immediate action and long-term reform
17 July 2025
CEO Message Balancing immediate action and long-term reformRecently, I welcomed the Interim Report of the Productivity Commission’s (PC) review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Preventio…
Read moreCEO Update: NAIDOC Week – The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy
10 July 2025
CEO Message This week, Mental Health Australia acknowledges and celebrates the 50th National NAIDOC Week. This year's theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, elevating Indigeno…
Read moreCEO Update: Reflecting on the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Agreement and next steps
3 July 2025
CEO Message Reflecting on the Productivity Commission's review of the National Agreement and next stepsLast week, we welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report into thei…
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CEO Update: Coming together for change
27 June 2025
CEO MessageComing together for changeOn Wednesday the Mental Health Australia team and I hosted more than 180 members for our first Policy Forum of 2025. We came together in Canberra and online, to re…
Read moreCEO Update: The Australian community left waiting for mental health reform
19 June 2025
CEO Message The Australian community left waiting for mental health reform Last Friday, health and mental health ministers from Commonwealth, State and Territory jurisdictions convened in Me…
Read moreCEO Update: A time for action
12 June 2025
CEO MessageA time for action Tomorrow, Australia’s health and mental health ministers will gather for their first meeting of 2025 to discuss the nation’s mental health priorities.This meeting is …
Read moreCEO Update: We need collective action from governments to improve mental health
5 June 2025
CEO Message We need collective action from governments to improve mental healthNext week, Australia’s health and mental health ministers will meet for the first time since August 2024. This is a …
Read moreCEO Update: National Reconciliation Week 2025 – Bridging Now to Next
29 May 2025
It’s National Reconciliation Week 2025, a time to focus on strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.
Read moreCEO Update: Mental health priorities for the first 100 days of the new Albanese Government
22 May 2025
With a new federal ministry now sworn in, Mental Health Australia has tabled our Incoming Government Brief to key ministers in the re-elected Albanese Government. It offers immediate, actionable mental health reform priorities for the government to progress in this second term of government.
Read moreCEO Update: Reflecting on a remarkable legacy
15 May 2025
In 2002, the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) was established under the auspice of the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA), now Mental Health Australia. Then in 2007, the National Register of Mental Health Consumer & Carer Representatives (the National Register) was established under MHCA's purview. It’s fair to say that the histories of Mental Health Australia, the NMHCCF and National Register, are deeply intertwined.
Read moreCEO Update: Back to work on the bold and ambitious mental health reform Australia needs
8 May 2025
In an historic result, the Albanese Labor Government has been re-elected by a significant majority over the weekend. This outcome is noteworthy on several levels, including that this will be the second largest federal majority government yet formed (second to the Coalition in 1996), and largest Labor Federal majority ever.
Read moreCEO Update: Mental health matters – 2025 Federal Election campaign wrap-up
1 May 2025
With just a couple of days to go until the Federal Election, it’s timely to look back and review what various parties have pledged in terms of mental health policy and investment for the next term of government.
Read moreCEO Update: Message for ANZAC Day
24 April 2025
This week, on the eve of ANZAC Day, we are honoured to have Major Darren Black (Retired), contribute this week's message. Darren is a former Army Officer and UN Peacekeeper with over 20 years' experience as a CEO of purpose led not-for-profit organisations, and is CEO of Superfriend, a Mental Health Australia member organisation.
Read moreCEO Update: Productivity Commission review – It's time for a truly national mental health and suicide prevention system
17 April 2025
Last Friday the Productivity Commission hosted a webinar to share what they have heard so far in their review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. The review is assessing the impact of programs delivered under the Agreement, and it will be making recommendations to enhance the effectiveness, accessibility, affordability and safety of the mental health and suicide prevention system.
Read moreCEO Update: A welcome focus on mental health with the ALP's $1 billion commitment
10 April 2025
The Australian Labor Party’s announcement earlier this week of a $1 billion commitment to free mental health supports, while also boosting the mental health workforce, is a significant commitment to mental health in Australia.
Read moreCEO Update: Mental health on the Federal Election agenda
3 April 2025
Last week, the Federal Coalition committed to a $400 million investment in youth mental health, in their Opposition Budget reply speech. This, together with the Coalition’s longstanding commitment to invest $500 million to double the number of Better Access sessions, from 10 to 20, has firmly put mental health on the agenda for the 2025 Federal Election.
Read moreCEO Update: Out of step with community expectations – the Federal Budget has left mental health behind
27 March 2025
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.
Read moreCEO Update: Working together to build an equitable and culturally responsive mental health system
21 March 2025
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’.
Read moreCEO Update: Natural disasters – Mental health supports are key to a stronger recovery
13 March 2025
With the passing of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred (TC Alfred) over Australia’s eastern seaboard, we are again witnessing the adaptability and strength of communities responding to an extreme weather event.
Read moreCEO Update: Sustainable funding for the mental health sector – an urgent national priority
6 March 2025
We are pleased to have released Mental Health Australia’s platform for the 2025 Federal Election in full, in anticipation of the calling of the upcoming election. Together, the three components of our platform set out an ambitious vision for the next term of Government, one that will pave a new path for mental health reform in Australia in 2025 and beyond.
Read moreCEO Update: Federal Election Platform 2025 - Pathways to free mental health support for children and young people
27 February 2025
Mental Health Australia is urging all political parties to commit to implement pathways to free mental health care for everyone under the age of 25 as part of their election platforms.
Read moreCEO Update: Closing the Gap – First Nations-led responses to mental health are key to urgent reform
21 February 2025
Last week, the Prime Minister released the 2024 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2025 Implementation Plan. This annual release is a moment to reflect on and re-commit to creating an equitable country – one where First Nations peoples have the same health, life expectancy, mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing as all others in Australia.
Read moreCEO Update: New data drives case for mental health reform
13 February 2025
This past week we’ve seen the Productivity Commission release the Report on Government Services 2025, which highlights concerning nationwide trends of reduced access to mental health support, at a time when our community needs it most.
Read moreCEO Update: Mental health must be a budget priority
6 February 2025
Mental health is clearly a community priority. The majority (81%) of Australian voters say they are concerned about mental health, and 75% believe government needs to do more to address this issue. We also know over half of people in Australia (57% of a representative sample) – report cost of living increases have negatively affected their mental health over the past year.
Read moreCEO Update: Welcome to 2025 – A Federal Election year and opportunity to transform mental health in Australia
30 January 2025
As many of us return from our summer breaks, and we begin planning for the year ahead, it’s unsurprising that attention is shifting to the upcoming Federal Election. In the coming months this country will face a choice about what kind of community we want to build together, and what our priorities should be for the future of Australia.
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