Mind Australia recognises the intent of this year’s Federal Budget was to help Australians manage cost-of-living pressures, but with no new investment in mental health and psychosocial support, people experiencing mental health challenges will continue to face significant stress and uncertainty.
Mind CEO Gill Callister said that at a time when people are already struggling with cost-of-living pressures and housing insecurity, uncertainty around access to mental health and wellbeing supports and services only adds to the pressure many people are experiencing.
“This is particularly concerning in the context of ongoing changes and cuts to the NDIS. The Australian Psychosocial Alliance’s Access Denied report highlighted that people living with psychosocial disability have already been disproportionately disadvantaged by NDIS access processes.
“Any further reforms to the Scheme must ensure people with psychosocial disability are not left without the vital supports they rely on.”
Mind acknowledges the Budget in itself is just one piece of the puzzle, and we look forward to seeing further detail on proposed NDIS reforms when legislation is tabled in Parliament.
Housing support for young Australians
Mind welcomes the Federal Government’s inclusion of a Youth Housing Supplement in the 2026/2027 Federal Budget. We were proud to support the Home Time campaign in the lead-up to last night’s Budget, which called on the Government to address the rental gap preventing many young people from accessing available housing stock. The inclusion of a Youth Housing Supplement is a significant step towards a fairer and more equitable housing system that better supports young Australians experiencing mental health challenges.
Next steps for national mental health reform
Mind looks forward to working with the Government on the development and implementation of Foundational Supports and the new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
Last night’s Budget included a one-year extension of the existing National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, which provides short-term funding relief for key suicide prevention services while work continues on a new National Agreement.
“The National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement will be critical to addressing the significant unmet need for psychosocial support across Australia,” Ms Callister said.
“For too long, people living with mental health challenges and psychosocial disability have struggled to access the supports they need to live well in their communities.
“Now, our attention turns to the new Agreement, which must deliver a coordinated national approach that closes service gaps and ensures people can access timely, recovery-focused support.
“Nearly 500,000 people were identified in the Government’s own unmet need report two years ago, and yet we’re still waiting for a plan that ensures they can access the psychosocial supports they need and deserve.”
Mind also believes the new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement must be supported by an uplift in funding to ensure it can meet the needs of all Australians experiencing mental health challenges, including those who are currently missing out on support.
NDIS reform and impacts for people with psychosocial disability
Mind acknowledges the Federal Government's $15.9 million commitment to consult with Australians with disability on future reforms to the Scheme, as well as its $3.3 million commitment to establish a Technical Advisory Group to provide expertise on the design of functional capacity assessment tools and instruments.