Thank you Libby for your introduction.
Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.
I pay my respect to their elders, past and present, and to all First Nations people taking part today.
It's a pleasure to join you here today at the 2025 Policymaker Summit.
Before entering parliament, I was a specialist mental health pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy working in a regional health district.
Now, as Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, I draw my clinical background, experience in public sector and training in public health to shape better health and mental health policy.
My starting point as a clinician and policy maker is evidence based policy.
And, my determination is to create public value.
As a Labor government, we are committed to the principles of Medicare: universal, equitable and affordable.
And , with my responsibilities for Mental Health this is particularly important. Which is why we’ve introduced Medicare Mental Health.
The summit theme is “What’s Working in Public Policy”.
And I’m very pleased to be able to tell you about a policy that is already making a huge difference to Australians.
Our government is transforming our mental health system.
Our Medicare Mental Health Centres are free, walk-in services with no referral or appointment needed. Removing barriers and improving access to quality care and support.
There are 45 Medicare Mental Health Centres open and we are rolling out a network of 91 centres across the country.
Centres also have access to psychologists and psychiatrists through a centralised virtual service. This service will improve access to psychiatrists and psychologists across the network, particularly in regional and remote communities.
The pace of change has been rapid.
And, this has been achieved through genuine collaboration.
Each Medicare Mental Health Centre is co-designed with stakeholders including state/territory health and hospital services, non-government and Primary Health Networks (PHN) commissioned services.
And very importantly, people with lived experience, who have shaped the design and delivery of services, making sure the services do meet the needs of those seeking care and support.
I’m proud to be part of a government that is bringing mental health into the heart of Medicare; and services into the centre of communities.
Mental health care that can be life changing; and can also be life saving.
Initiatives like today’s Summit are helping to improve public policy and to bridge gaps to effective collaboration.
Meaningful collaboration across all levels of government, researchers, practitioners, service providers - the experts among you with deep community ties - and, most importantly, with the Australian people who will make sure our health system and mental health system is not only evidence-based but also compassionate, effective, and accessible.
Thank you.