Role
The Department of Health and Aged Care and state and territory governments established the Psychosocial Project Group to analyse the unmet need for psychosocial supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The analysis will inform future:
- arrangements for providing psychosocial support outside the NDIS
- roles and responsibilities between the Australian Government and the states and territories, in relation to psychosocial supports outside the NDIS.
The project group was set up in September 2022 under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
On 16 August 2024, Australian Health and Mental Health Ministers agreed to release the Final Report of the Analysis of unmet need for psychosocial supports outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The report is accompanied by the Statement from Australian Health Ministers: Analysis of unmet need for psychosocial supports outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The report estimates, in 2022-23, around 230,500 people with a severe mental health condition (aged 12 to 64 years) were unable to access psychosocial supports.
More information about the project group’s role and work remit is outlined in its terms of reference.
Members
The project group includes representatives from:
- the Australian government
- state and territory governments
- people with mental health lived experience (this position is currently vacant*).
| Member | Jurisdiction | Position |
|---|---|---|
Kristen Price (from May 2024) Past member: Sarah Hawke | Australian Government (Co-chair) | Assistant Secretary, Suicide Prevention Branch – Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Sandra Eyre | Queensland (Co-chair) | Senior Director, Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch – Queensland Health |
| Amy Wyndham | New South Wales | Director, Community Partnerships – NSW Health |
| Phil Watson | Victoria | Principal Program Advisor – VIC Department of Health |
| Ruth Langmead | Western Australia | Assistant Director, Strategic Management – WA Mental Health Commission |
| Gise Paine | South Australia | Principal Project Officer, Service Planning and Performance – SA Department for Health and Wellbeing |
Kate Garvey (from March 2024) Past member: Jane Austin | Tasmania | A/g General Manager, Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Directorate – TAS Department of Health |
| Wendy Kipling | Australian Capital Territory | Senior Director, Mental Health Policy and Strategy – ACT Health Directorate |
Melissa Heywood (from April 2024) Past member: Cherise Daiyi | Northern Territory | Senior Policy Officer, Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch – NT Health
|
Vacant Past member: Deb Hamilton* | Lived experience representative | - |
|
Meetings
The project group has been meeting regularly to support progression of the work being undertaken as part of the analysis of unmet need.
Consultation
The consultation plan for the unmet need analysis project outlines stakeholder consultation and engagement for the project, including timings for national workshops.
Consultation plan for the Analysis of unmet need for psychosocial support
The first national virtual workshop with stakeholders was held on 18 August 2023. As outlined in the Consultation Workshop 1 Summary, this workshop tested the unmet need analysis method with stakeholders.
The second national virtual workshop with stakeholders was held on 22 March 2024. Key themes from consultation on the draft estimates of psychosocial need, service provision and limitations are presented in the report.
Project Updates
The project group releases project updates to keep psychosocial sector stakeholders informed of how the analysis work is progressing.
Psychosocial Project Group – Project updates
Contact
