System reform and inquiries
System reform and inquiries
Mind is a key stakeholder in the mental health and wellbeing and psychosocial disability sector. We are recognised as an important and respected contributor to debates on system reform in Australia.
We contribute to public inquiries and seek to ensure that our voice, and that of the community we serve, is heard by Governments and decision-makers across Australia.
Our recent contributions to system reform include submissions and reports to the following bodies and inquiries:
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
Submission to the Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health Services, July 2019 (PDF 1.5 MB)
Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health 2018 – 2020
The Productivity Commission inquiry into mental health was a major opportunity to re-evaluate Australia’s mental health system.
In 2019, we provided a submission responding to the issues paper. This focused on the reforms needed to enhance productivity and participation for people with mental health needs. We also gave evidence at a public hearing in November 2019.
In 2020, we provided a follow-up submission to the draft report. We combined our experience, practice wisdom and research with Neami National, SANE Australia and Wellways to present a joint submission. The submission focused on areas we felt could be strengthened in the final report so that it best addressed the needs of all Australians.
Mental Health Select Committee (QLD) – Inquiry into the Opportunities to Improve Mental Health Outcomes for Queenslanders
Mind’s response to the Queensland Parliament’s Mental Health Select Committee inquiry on opportunities to improve Queenslander’s mental health outcomes, focused on the need for whole of system reform, increased psychosocial supports in the community, housing and homelessness support, and greater provision of service for young people.
National Disability Insurance Scheme – Psychosocial disability
National Disability Insurance Scheme – Psychosocial disability
Mind is a strong supporter of the NDIS and the inclusion of people with psychosocial disability in the Scheme. In addition to our service delivery, we also work to improve policy settings to ensure NDIS participants with a psychosocial disability are able to have their support needs met based on their individual needs and goals. We regularly contribute to NDIS inquiries and submission processes based on consultations with people with lived experience.
Our recent contributions include submissions and reports to the following bodies and inquiries:
Submissions to the National Disability Insurance Agency
Review of the NDIS Act and the New NDIS Participant Service Guarantee
During the 2019 Federal Election the Australian Government promised to develop and legislate a NDIS Participant Service Guarantee to improve participant experiences with the NDIS. Mind’s submission calls for the Department of Social Services and the NDIS to take into account the unique needs of people with a psychosocial disability when implementing a Participant Service Guarantee and making amendments to the Act.
Joint Standing Committee into the NDIS – The provision of services under the NDIS for people with psychosocial disabilities related to a mental health condition
Our submission outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the NDIS for people with a psychosocial disability, and highlighted that implementation of the Scheme poses a significant challenge for the mental health system broadly, as It comes to terms with a newly constituted boundary between what is mental health and disability.
Joint Standing Committee into the NDIS submission #118 (March 2017)
Productivity Commission Inquiry into NDIS costs
Mind’s submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into NDIS costs highlighted the need for the scheme to work as well as possible for all participants, and commented measures to improve the inclusion of people with psychosocial disability in the scheme.
Housing and homelessness
Housing and homelessness
Since 1977, the provision of housing and residential services has been at the core of Mind’s approach to community based mental health care. Mind and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) recently published Trajectories, one of the first national studies to examine the relationship between the housing and mental health pathways of people with lived experience of mental ill-health. We know housing is critical for mental health recovery, with the findings of Trajectories informing our submissions to recent inquiries. Find out more about Trajectories.
Our recent contributions include submissions and reports to the following bodies and inquiries:
Productivity Commission Housing and Homelessness Agreement Review
Mind’s evidence to the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement focused on the barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing for people experiencing mental ill-health and psychosocial disability, and potential changes to the Agreement which may address these barriers.
Victorian 10-Year Strategy for Social and Affordable Housing
Mind made a submission to the Victorian Government’s 10-year strategy for social and affordable housing in Victoria which specifically addressed the needs of people experiencing mental ill health.
Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria
Mind’s submission to the Legal and Social Issues Committee’s Inquiry into Homelessness urged consideration of the interrelationship between homelessness and mental health, and provided advice on supported living. We were also invited to appear as a witness at a public hearing of the Committee.
Social and community inclusion
Social and community inclusion
Our recent contributions include submissions and reports to the following bodies and inquiries:
Victorian LGBTIQ+ Strategy
Mind contributed to the Victorian Government’s consultation on the Victorian LGBTIQ+ Strategy, with our submission contributing our experience and expertise in delivering LGBTIQ+ specific services.
Suicide Prevention and Response
Suicide Prevention and Response
Our recent contributions include submissions and reports to the following bodies and inquiries:
Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy
Mind contributed to the Victorian Government’s consultation on development of the new Victorian suicide prevention and response strategy.
Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy
Mind contributed to the Tasmanian Government’s consultation on the draft Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2023-2027.
- Submission (September 2022)
Families and carers
Families and carers
Between 2017 and 2021, Mind led the Caring Fairly campaign – a national campaigning coalition directed by unpaid carers, along with specialist organisations and peak bodies that support and advocate for their rights. Caring Fairly was launched in August 2018 at Parliament House, Canberra, by a founding coalition of over twenty organisations.
The campaign had some great achievements, including significant media attention, references in Parliament and the release of videos asking government to make care fair. With the campaign now ended, Mind will continue to use our unique expertise in mental health to advocate for mental health carers.
Between April – May 2020 the Caring Fairly Coalition conducted a survey to capture unpaid carers’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the results demonstrate the considerable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on unpaid carers.
Caring Fairly made submissions to the following inquiries:
Productivity Commission into Mental Health
Caring Fairly made a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health, authored by Mind with input from Carers Australia, which focused on mental health carers. This was followed by a further response to the Draft Report.
Social and community inclusion
Our recent contributions include submissions and reports to the following bodies and inquiries:
Victorian LGBTIQ+ Strategy
Mind contributed to the Victorian Government’s consultation on the Victorian LGBTIQ+ Strategy, with our submission contributing our experience and expertise in delivering LGBTIQ+ specific services.