By Nicola Ballenden
In this monthly update, I share highlights from Mind Australia's advocacy work over the past month – including the key issues we're speaking up on, the conversations shaping the sector, and the opportunities we see to improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health challenges, as well as their families and carers.
June has been another busy month for the Advocacy team, preparing for our appearance at the Senate Committee inquiry into the latest NDIS legislation and staying on top of the latest state budgets.
Mind advocacy to Senate Committee
Last week, our Board Chair Allan Fels, Board Director Tim Heffernan, CEO Gill Callister and I appeared before the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee in Canberra. We called for targeted amendments to the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026, to ensure people with psychosocial disability are not unintentionally disadvantaged further in accessing essential disability support.
Mind was among the few specialist disability providers, and the only psychosocial services provider, invited to appear before the Committee's inquiry into the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026. While Mind recognises the need for a sustainable Scheme, we expressed to the Committee our concern that proposed legislative changes relating to the assessment of functional capacity, permanency and treatment could risk unintentionally excluding people with psychosocial disability. Without specific psychosocial disability considerations built into the framework we risk seeing more people with psychosocial disability spending longer periods in hospitals, living in inappropriate housing, or experiencing homelessness.
The response to our advocacy to the Senate Committee has been very heartening.
Mind's advocacy received coverage on SBS News Radio, including an excerpt from Tim Heffernan's presentation, which you can listen to here.
Equally heartening has been the positive feedback to our social media posts about the Senate hearing, which outlined our key advocacy points. These posts had over 700 interactions across LinkedIn and Facebook in less than 24 hours. Several community members expressed appreciation that the experiences and needs of people with psychosocial disability were represented in the hearing, with some describing the evidence as impactful and thanking Mind for its advocacy. It's great to know that our efforts are helping people to feel heard and to hold hope that the NDIS Amendment Bill will not leave them vulnerable.
We are eagerly awaiting the Committee's report, which is due to be published on Friday 9 June and will continue to work with politicians from across the political landscape to push for appropriate solutions. We'll keep you posted on our social media channels and through these updates.
Jenny McAllister, Minister for the NDIS, and Jodie Belyea MP, Federal Member for Dunkley visited our (second) Haven Foundation residence in Frankston this month.
Mind response to South Australian State Budget
Mind's advocacy team published a response to the South Australian Budget, which was announced earlier this month. Sadly, there is no meaningful new investment in community-managed mental health services despite growing demand and increasing pressure on the sector.
The lack of additional funding comes at a critical time, as demand for community mental health support continues to grow, while changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are creating uncertainty for many people living with psychosocial disability and reshaping how support is accessed.
As NDIS reforms continue to take effect, more people are likely to rely on state-funded community mental health services for support. Without additional investment, the sector will face increasing pressure to meet growing demand with already stretched resources,"
You can read Mind's full response to the South Australian budget on our website.
Nicola Ballenden is Mind Australia's Executive Director – Strategy Engagement and Housing Transformation.