The year ahead
With the new year comes many significant policy reform opportunities for Mental Health Australia and our members.
The 2024-25 Federal Budget is only a few short months away, and we have reinforced in our pre-budget submission to the Australian Government that there is an urgent need to develop and fund the implementation of a multi-year mental health reform roadmap, which is co-designed with the sector and people with lived experience and their family, carers, and supporters.
This submission, informed by members at our November Member’s Policy Forum, also calls for:
- reform of funding models to adjust and ensure certainty in service delivery for both the community and the sector;
- funding for a national low-intensity support service;
- addressing the gap in psychosocial supports outside the NDIS;
- increasing access to multidisciplinary care for people with complex mental health needs;
- reforms to PHN funding and commissioning models to increase equity;
- funding to implement the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy and establish a professional association for the Lived Experience (peer) workforce;
- and measures to address social, cultural and environmental factors to holistically respond to and prevent mental ill-health – including supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people following the referendum and increasing mental health carer respite services.
I highly encourage everyone to read our full pre-budget submission and details of further proposed 2024-25 Budget measures on the Mental Health Australia website.
This year we are looking forward to the Government’s responses to the Better Access evaluation, the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission, and will be ready with our members to support the design and implementation of reforms. Further, negotiations will also be underway for the National Health Reform Agreement, with the new agreement to commence from July 2025.
One of the biggest upcoming changes in the sector will be the establishment of two new peak bodies to independently represent consumers, and families, carers and kin. Mental Health Australia is looking forward to working closely with these new peaks, and has called for support to ensure lived experience leadership and representation is maintained through the process of establishment and transition to the new peaks.
There have also been big changes for Mental Health Australia both at a Board level and a management level.
I, along with the Board, would like to thank Ashley de Silva, who has stepped down from Mental Health Australia’s Board due to his new role as CEO of Choice. Ash made an incredible impact on the mental health of young people through his leadership with ReachOut Australia, as well as on the Mental Health Australia Board, and we wish him all the best for the future.
I would also like to welcome Nicola Ballenden to the Board, who is the Executive Director Research, Advocacy and Policy Development at Mind Australia. Nicola is filling the casual vacancy from Ash’s departure, based on the member election results in late 2023. Welcome Nicola!
At the management level, I also welcome Emma Greeney and Michelle Possingham to the team.
Emma has commenced as the Director of Policy and Advocacy, joining us from her most recent role as the Executive Director of Strategy, Policy and Advocacy at Mental Health Victoria.
Michelle Possingham will commence as the Director of Programs next week. Michelle is joining us after her role as the CEO of Lifeline Gippsland.
Both Emma and Michelle bring incredible skills and experience to these newly created roles, along with a personal passion and commitment to advocating for mental health reform.
I’m looking forward to working with you all this year to seize these big opportunities to progress reform, to improve peoples’ experience seeking mental health support in this country.
Carolyn Nikoloski CEO, Mental Health Australia
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