Mental Health Australia, CMHA and MIFA have made a joint preliminary submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review. This submission outlines three priority issues and related solutions, regarding: the lack of a recovery‑oriented approach for people with psychosocial disability, inadequate pricing undermining recovery-oriented support work and the lack of psychosocial support services outside the NDIS impacting on scheme sustainability. Mental Health Australia, CMHA and MIFA look forward to engaging further with the Review and exploring solutions to these issues.

As a part of the nation’s mental health reform agenda, the National Mental Health Commission has been tasked with developing a National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy.

The draft National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy has been released for public input and feedback and you are invited to provide feedback by 1st February 2023.   

The Australian Government has released the independent evaluation of the Better Access initiative which shows that while the scheme has broadened access to mental health services, it is not delivering for all Australians equally. The independent evaluation by the University of Melbourne has concluded that Better Access has had positive outcomes for those accessing the scheme, however it is serving some groups better than others, and these gaps are widening.

Researchers are calling for greater funding for rural mental health services, as a new study shows patients face increasing disadvantages. James Cook University’s Dr Andrew Amos is Chair of the Queensland Section of Rural Psychiatry, RANZ College of Psychiatrists, and lead author of the study. He said Australians outside metropolitan cities face higher rates of attempted and completed suicide, worse mental health and greater barriers to access mental health care. “Both community and hospital care are less available in rural locations, with private and NGO providers often operating at capacity, with limited ability to accept new patients and limited integration into public health networks.”

The Australian Medical Association has welcomed the release of the final report of the Better Access evaluation, showing that it is helping to improve health outcomes for people with mental illness but other programs are needed to complement the initiative to support hard-to-reach populations.

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to improving the lives of Australians living with disability through research by releasing two key projects that will help drive evidence-based policy reform.

One in six Australians are living with disability - or 4.4 million people and understanding their lives and the gaps in systems of support is key to improving outcomes. Recommendations for the National Disability Research Partnership’s establishment and Preliminary Research Agenda have today been released, indicating the areas of key focus for disability research.

Among the priorities include: looking at the education system and how it is best preparing students living with disability for employment; the social and economic costs and benefits of the NDIS; assistive technology and how it is best working.

Community services including homelessness, mental health and family violence organisations are facing soaring demand this Christmas due to the cost-of-living crisis, continuous disasters and the ongoing impacts of Covid-19, a new report has found.

The report Helping people in need during a cost-of-living crisis, based on the Australian Community Sector Survey undertaken by the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney for ACOSS and the State and Territory Councils of Social Service, and supported by Bendigo Bank, found that only three per cent of the 1,470 organisations surveyed said their main service can always meet demand. In 2020, when the Coronavirus Supplement was in place, that figure was 19 per cent, before dropping to six per cent in 2021 after the Supplement was withdrawn by the Federal Government.

The Malinauskas Labor Government will restore a full-time Mental Health Commissioner in South Australia for the first time in three years. The former Liberal Government in 2019 abolished the full-time Commissioner role that was last held by Chris Burns, and split the position into three part-time roles. 

The Department of Health and Aged Care has issued its next COVID-19 Disability Provider Alert.

This provider alert, along with other resources and information about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, is available from a dedicated web page for disability service providers on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website.

This Community Mental Health Australia conference will provide an opportunity for those both in and around the mental health sector to come together for the important conversations needed to address the advancement of the NDIS and related services. It will be a place where collaboration, compassion, and research come together to improve the wellbeing of our community. 

Expert speakers will lead discussions about NDIS issues, human rights, success stories, quality & navigation, psychosocial disability, and lived experienced leadership.

There will also be a focus on the creative brain, including the amazing exhibition ‘Out from the Mist’ accompanied by a talk from creative director Michael Lockwood. 

It will run across two full days from Monday 20 to Tuesday 21, February 2023, at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.

The International Mental Health Conference is a leading event in the international mental health community, attracting a cross section of sector leaders, professionals, and practitioners.

Why attend IMH?

Stay up to date with future projections.
Hear from experts on what the mental health workforce of the future looks like. Learn how we can support the longevity of our workforce and strategically manage our workforce.

Tap into more advanced work systems and care models.
Access the latest tech advancements and industry innovations to improve multi-sectoral collaboration and service standards to support better mental health.

Feel connected to your global community of mental health industry professionals.
Gather with likeminded sector professionals from both near and further afield to share stories, experiences and future plans for the sector.

Share, Collaborate and Listen.
Collaborate with your peers and learn from others in the field. Have your voice, research or insights seen and heard either as a presenter, or during the interactive Pan-Shops.

Emerging Minds has recently launched Emerging Minds’ Families – a new range of resources for parents seeking information and support about infant and child mental health.

The resources – including videos, factsheets, animations and podcasts – are free to access. They have been developed in collaboration with families, practitioners, and researchers and are designed for ease of use by all parties.

Topics include

- Supporting parents and families living with mental illness 
- Responding to and managing the impact of natural disasters including floods, bushfire and drought  
- Understanding and managing anxiety in children and young people, and 
- Infant mental health and wellbeing.