Last week was an important milestone in the evolution of Australia’s mental health system, with representatives of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials Lived Experience Group joining us for the first induction session in Canberra.
Mental Health Australia has been working with the Department of Health and Aged Care to establish the group and is providing support to help enable its success.
The establishment of the group is part of the implementation of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, which sets out the shared intention of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to work in partnership to improve the mental health of all people in Australia by strengthening the sustainability of the Australian mental health and suicide prevention system.
The induction day was an opportunity for representatives to hear more about the National Agreement and its governance bodies, including how the newly formed lived experience group will be part of the governance structure.
Although many acknowledged there is a long way to go, it was heartening to hear some representatives reflect a feeling of genuine progress in the mental health and suicide prevention systems, with the expertise of people with lived experience, their family, carers and supporters being listened to and valued.
Many noted however, that while decision-makers are starting to act on what they’re hearing from people with lived and living experience, there is still a need to move away from the idea of embedding lived experience, to people with lived experience leading the way.
The group also recognised the importance of hearing from diverse voices and experiences, including the involvement of young people, through supporting the development of the next generation of lived experience leaders. With two out of every five young people in Australia experiencing mental health-related issues, the involvement of these lived experience voices in mental health reform is crucial.
The induction of the group was timely, with the Department of Health and Aged Care issuing the Forecast Opportunities last week for the establishment and early operations of the National Mental Health Consumer Peak Body and the National Mental Health Carer, Family and Kin Peak Body.
These two new peak bodies will be providing diverse lived experience leadership and perspectives throughout the mental health system, ensuring people with lived and living experiences of mental health, family, carers and kin will collectively shape the policies, services, programs and systems that affect them.
These funding opportunities reflect a significant development in the evolution of lived experience leadership in Australia that Mental Health Australia, along with lived experience advocates and many others in the sector, has long been advocating for.
We’re looking forward to working with the new peaks once they are established so that collectively, we can reform the mental health system.
It is incredible to see the shift taking place in the way Australia’s mental health system is evolving. The courage and drive from people with lived and living experience, their family, carers and supporters to reform our mental health system will help shape experiences of care in the future so all people in Australia can get the support they need regardless of income or postcode.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia | 
