Role
The taskforce is overseeing the development of a 10-year National Mental Health Workforce Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy will consider the quality, supply, distribution and structure of the mental health workforce. It will also identify practical approaches that could be implemented by Australian governments to attract, train and retain the workforce required. This will help us meet future demands of the mental health system.
On 24 December 2020, the taskforce provided their initial recommendations, including priority actions, to the Australian Government. A final Strategy will be provided by the end of 2021 before endorsement by all governments under the Australian Federal Relations Architecture.
See the taskforce’s terms of reference.
Read the literature review of existing workforce strategies.
Health has engaged ACIL Allen to help the taskforce develop the Strategy and to lead public consultation on behalf of the taskforce.
Public consultation
The taskforce developed a National Mental Health Workforce Strategy – Consultation Draft, which was available for public consultation between 12 August 2021 and 30 September 2021.
The draft Strategy is supported by a background paper that outlines:
- the role of the taskforce
- consultation to date
- foundational research
- a summary of the issues facing the mental health workforce.
All feedback received during the public consultation will be considered and will help inform the final Strategy.
Members
Taskforce members come from across the mental health sector, including:
- professional, peak and peer groups
- consumers and carers
- Australian Government and state and territory governments
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reference groups
- education experts
- economic and labour market experts.
|
Member |
Background and experience |
|---|---|
|
Jennifer Taylor PSM (Co-chair) |
Former Chief Executive Officer, Comcare |
|
Thomas Brideson (Co-chair) |
Chief Executive Officer, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia |
|
Mark Roddam |
Australian Government Department of Health |
|
Lyndall Soper |
National Mental Health Commission |
|
Morton Rawlin |
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners |
|
John Allan |
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists |
|
Stephen Jackson |
Australian College of Mental Health Nurses |
|
Tamara Cavenett |
Australian Psychological Society |
|
Leanne Beagley |
Mental Health Australia |
|
Bill Gye |
Community Mental Health Australia |
|
Margaret Doherty |
Peer workforce representative |
|
Le Smith |
Northern Territory Primary Health Network |
|
Gabrielle O’Kane |
National Rural Health Alliance |
|
Faye McMillan |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Project Reference Group representative |
|
Peter Heggie |
Carer representative |
|
Heather Nowak |
Consumer representative |
|
Jeff Borland |
Labour market expert |
|
Genevieve Pepin |
Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences |
|
John Brayley |
Chief Psychiatrist, South Australia Department of Health and Wellbeing |
|
Tricia O’Riordan |
NSW Ministry of Health |
|
Di Stow |
Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists |
Meetings
The taskforce meets once a month.
Communiques
Read the taskforce meeting summaries:
National Mental Health Workforce Strategy Taskforce communiques
Related committees or groups
Working groups were established to examine the following priority areas in greater detail:
- rural and remote workforce and service delivery
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- workforce training and education
- peer and lived experience
- inter-jurisdictional and inter-governmental workforce policies and strategies.
The working groups reported back to the taskforce in late 2020. Their work is now complete.
