National Mental Health Workforce Strategy Taskforce

Role

The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy Taskforce informed the development of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

The taskforce considered the quality, supply, distribution and structure of the mental health workforce. It also identified practical approaches that could be implemented by Australian governments to build the workforce required to meet the demands of the mental health system.

To form its advice, the taskforce:

• drew on evidence from a range of sources including published literature, workforce data analysis, and government reports and inquiries
• established 5 working groups to consider priority areas in greater detail
• held roundtables with consumers, carers, and state and territory governments
• ran a public consultation process
• met as a group more than 20 times.

See the taskforce’s terms of reference.

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.

Advice to government

On 18 February 2022, the taskforce provided its final advice to the Australian Government in the form of a Post-Consultation Draft Strategy and background paper:

• NMHWS Post Consultation Draft Strategy (Dec 2021)
• Consultation background paper (Aug 2021)

On 24 December 2020, the taskforce provided the Australian Government with its initial recommendations, including priority actions.

Research

For the consideration of the taskforce, several research papers were developed:

• Mental Health Workforce – Labour Market Analysis (Dec 2020)
• Mental Health Workforce – Educational Institutes Review (Dec 2020)
• Literature review of existing workforce strategies (Jul 2020).

Public consultation

The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy – Consultation Draft and associated Background Paper, were available for public consultation between 12 August 2021 and 30 September 2021. Feedback from public submissions informed the taskforce’s final advice and finalisation of the strategy.

Working groups and roundtables

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. 

The taskforce also carried out two consumer and carer roundtables and three state and territory government roundtables.

Meetings

Read the taskforce meeting summaries:

Contact