Welcome to Mental Health Australia
As the national, independent peak body for the mental health sector, we unite the sector and advocate for policies that improve mental health.
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For over 25 years Mental Health Australia has advocated for mental health reform, and we continue to drive policy changes and proactively put mental health on the agenda.
What we do
Our strategy
We are the national, independent peak body for the mental health sector. We unite the voices of the mental health sector and advocate for policies that improve mental health.
Latest policy submissions
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29 July 2025Read moreNDIS Supports Rules Consultation
On Friday 25 July 2025, Mental Health Australia made a submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the NDIS Supports Rules. The rules will determine which supports are and are not considered NDIS Supports, and therefore can or can not be purchased through a NDIS plan. Mental Health Australia’s submission calls for:Exercise physiology and personal wellbeing activities for the purpose of improving psychosocial functioning to be available through NDIS plansA transparent process to update both the lists of ‘Supports that are NDIS supports” and “Supports that are not NDIS Supports”Clarity around the provision of recovery-oriented supportConsistency in the interpretation of therapeutic supports for people with psychosocial disability.The submission builds on Mental Health Australia’s previous submission, and also refers the Australian Government to the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance’s submission as a critical contribution from a lived experience perspective. -
23 June 2025Read moreNDIS Incoming Government Brief
On Friday 20 June 2025, Mental Health Australia provided an Incoming Government Brief on psychosocial disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to Minister for Disability and the NDIS, the Hon Mark Butler MP and Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister.The brief acknowledges that while the NDIS has been life changing for many people with psychosocial disability, their family, carers and kin, it is clear that overall there is a need for a more tailored and effective use of the funding committed to the NDIS for people with psychosocial disability. The brief outlines practical solutions to deliver this approach and recommends priority actions for the first 100 days and first year of this government, informed by sector and lived experience expertise. Actions include introducing a new approach to NDIS support for people with psychosocial disability, getting navigation reforms right for people with psychosocial disability, understanding the recent decline in NDIS access rates, shifting from encouraging dependence to supporting recovery, ensuring psychosocial expertise is informing NDIS reforms and fixing NDIS pricing. The brief also discusses implementation of General Foundational Supports for people with psychosocial disability and addressing the unmet need for psychosocial support outside the NDIS.Read the full Incoming Government Brief by clicking on the PDF link below. -
27 March 2025Read moreSubmission to the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement
Mental Health Australia has welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement).While the National Agreement has made a good start in establishing system architecture and has facilitated much-needed investment in mental health services, it falls short of delivering a truly national mental health and suicide prevention system. This is because the responsibilities articulated largely reflect existing arrangements, rather than progressing collaborative and transformational reform. The reliance on bilateral agreements perpetuates fragmentation through funding ‘bits and pieces’ that are not aligned to a national vision of the support system Australia is aiming to achieve. The next National Agreement must deliver on a national vision for the mental health system.As discussed in this submission, there has been progress in delivering some specific actions and commitments of the National Agreement. However, in other cases implementation has been delayed or sometimes completely stalled. Far greater transparency and accountability are needed to track the reform implementation, and outcomes achieved, through the National Agreement. - 21 May 2021Read more
2025 Incoming Government Brief
Mental Health Australia's Incoming Government Brief for the mental health portfolio outlines the mental health sector’s priorities for the Albanese Government in the first 100 days and first year, as well as the ongoing reforms the sector is keen to see the government continue to deliver.
Latest media releases
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13 June 2025Read moreThe Australian community is left waiting for mental health reform
Peak mental health body Mental Health Australia acknowledges some progress made by Health and Mental Health Ministers at their joint meeting, but calls for greater collective action on key reform priorities. -
26 May 2025Read moreJoint open letter urging investment to address unmet need for psychosocial support
On Monday 26 May 2025, Mental Health Australia and all state and territory mental health peak bodies wrote to all Health and Mental Health Ministers encouraging decisive action on investment in psychosocial support outside the NDIS to meet need. In line with a Statement developed with Mental Health Australia members, the letter calls for Health and Mental Health Ministers, at their upcoming meeting, to:recommend to National Cabinet that it agree a funding envelope for a 50:50 cost share arrangement to increase investment in psychosocial supports over a five-year period to meet need; andcommit to a public consultation process to design future psychosocial support arrangements. We know that 493,600 people across Australia are missing out on the psychosocial support they need and deserve. It is now nine months since Australian governments released analysis quantifying this shortfall. We welcomed governments’ commitment to the development of a “robust plan for future psychosocial support arrangements” at the last Health and Mental Health Minister’s meeting, and are now urging action to deliver these arrangements. Governments have the information needed to make wise investments in psychosocial services to achieve good outcomes. Governments have an analysis of unmet need, evidence about what works, existing interjurisdictional governance mechanisms to build on, and existing service infrastructure and commissioning pathways. All we need now is for Governments to commit funding to ensure all people in Australia who need it can access quality psychosocial supports.
Events
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13 August 2025Read morePsychosocial Network Webinar
Members of MHA's Psychosocial Network Webinar are invited to join a webinar consultation on 13 August to discuss updates to our policy position on next steps to address unmet need for psychosocial support outside the NDIS.At their June 2025 meeting, Health and Mental Health Ministers agreed to maintain existing funding for psychosocial services and that “addressing unmet psychosocial needs will be one of the central priorities in consideration of the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.” However, this meeting fell short of genuinely progressing reform, and doesn’t go far enough for the 493,600 people who are currently missing out on these supports and need access now. Eight months on from the publication of our Statement on Addressing Unmet Need for Psychosocial Support Outside the NDIS, Mental Health Australia is seeking your views to update our policy position to reflect the current reform environment.Your feedback will inform Mental Health Australia’s ongoing advocacy to the Productivity Commission on their review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, and leading into the next Health and Mental Health Ministers Meeting.Please register to attend the webinar via the link below by COB 06 August. Meeting papers will be provided one week ahead of the webinar. -
22 August 2025Read moreWebinar: National Mental Health Commission - Report Card
Mental Health Australia is pleased to host a special webinar facilitated by our CEO, Carolyn Nikoloski, with guest presenter, David McGrath, CEO of the National Mental Health Commission. This timely discussion will explore key findings from the Commission’s 2024 National Report Card, released on 24 July. The webinar offers a valuable opportunity for the sector to hear firsthand insights into the data, themes and implications emerging from this year's report - and what it means for Australia’s mental health system moving forward.The webinar will include the opportunity for audience Q&A via Slido.Registration will open soon.
Get involved
Become a member
Mental Health Australia prides itself on providing members with a range of benefits and value to advocate for lasting mental health reform.
Our membership brings together a diverse range of organisations from across Australia to be a strong voice on mental health reform and stigma reduction.
Make a donation
Make a difference by making a donation to Mental Health Australia.
Mental Health Australia is a registered charity and your tax deductible donations will enable us to continue to produce independent and innovative research.
Connect with us
Join us on social media - follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram for updates.
Including news, events and opportunities to get involved. As the national peak for mental health, Mental Health Australia is your go-to for trusted insights and insights and sector-wide advocacy.
Attend an event
Mental Health Australia holds a number of events for members and invited guests throughout the year.
Members are invited to these events via our membership database list, which is updated monthly.