Shaping a Better Mental Health Future Together
5 February 2026
Hi everyone,
Over recent months I’ve had many conversations across our sector, and one overwhelming message has come through: mounting social and economic pressures are continuing to affect people’s mental health, placing our communities and the mental health system under increasing strain.
Social cohesion is being tested as communities navigate climate-related disasters, increasing violence, racism and discrimination, international uncertainty and cost-of-living stress. These challenges are not felt evenly, and many who are already experiencing tough times are finding it harder to access the support they need.
The Australian Government needs to act to mitigate these challenges, strengthen communities and ensure equitable access to supports for all people experiencing mental health challenges, and their families, carers and kin.
As we head towards the 2026-27 Federal Budget in May, this is a critical moment for us to speak up as a sector and call for change, to ensure that we can all live, work and learn in safe and supportive environments that promote good mental health, and so the mental health system can respond to the pressing needs of people and communities now, and into the future.
Recent Government commitments have made important progress, particularly in improving access to supports for young people. These steps matter and show what is possible when mental health is treated as a national priority. But to create lasting, intergenerational reform, we need to go further.
The upcoming National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement is a major opportunity, but delays risk slowing reform. We need the 2026–27 Budget to act as a bridge, ensuring services can respond to community needs in the shorter-term, and from day one of the new Agreement.
Mental Health Australia’s 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission outlines the immediate actions the Australian Government can take to strengthen the mental health system and support communities now, while also laying foundations for longer-term change.
These priorities reflect insights from our members, including discussions at our sector webinar in October 2025 which we hosted to inform our Pre-Budget submission, and build on current evidence and recommendations from recent national inquiries.
We’re calling for the Australian Government to:
1. Invest to improve mental health
- Provide more support for children aged 0 to 12 and their families
- Greater focus on prevention, early intervention and psychosocial supports
- Expanded employment support and support for carers.
2. Address disadvantage and ensure equitable access
- Stronger Social and Emotional Wellbeing and mental health supports for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander communities - More inclusive supports for LGBTIQ+ communities and multicultural communities
- Better housing and income support for people experiencing mental health challenges.
3. Strengthen system foundations
- Embed lived experience leadership across the system
- Build and sustain a diverse, well supported mental health workforce
- Move towards longer, more stable funding and better national data.
- Make it easier to navigate the mental health system.
You can read our full submission on our website.
I want to thank every member who contributed to this work. Your insights guide our advocacy and strengthen our collective voice.
We stand ready to work with the Australian Government, the sector and people with lived experience and their family, carers and kin to make meaningful reform a reality.
Carolyn Nikoloski, CEO
Mental Health Australia