About the strategy
The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 sets out how governments will work together with the sector to meet the demands of the mental health system. This includes how to best attract, train, maximise, support, and retain the workforce required to meet current and future demands of the mental health system.
Health Ministers endorsed the strategy in November 2022.
National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2032
National Mental Health Workforce Strategy – Summary
National Mental Health Workforce Strategy – Conceptual framework
Why it is important
Poor mental health is a pressing issue, the challenge is complex and impacts all Australians. Almost half of us will experience a mental health condition at some point in our lives.
The demand for mental health support and services is increasing over time. There is an urgent need to create a well-rounded and responsive mental health system across Australia. To meet the needs of all Australians, we need a skilled and contemporary workforce.
The strategy aims to address challenges with growing and sustaining the mental health workforce in Australia, including:
- workforce shortages
- stigma and negative views of working in mental health
- unclear roles about who can perform what service and in which setting, particularly when working in multidisciplinary teams and in emerging workforces
- limited connection and collaboration across mental health professions and disciplines
- unequal distribution of workforce, particularly affecting regional, rural, and remote areas
- limited availability and use of high-quality data to inform workforce planning
- increase in demand for services.
Strategy development
We created the strategy with advice from:
- independent National Mental Health Workforce Strategy Taskforce
- state and territory governments
- public consultation with consumer and carer representatives, employers in the mental health sector, peak bodies and professional associations, and vocational and higher education providers.
National Mental Health Workforce Working Group
The National Mental Health Workforce Working Group has been established to oversee the implementation of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 and to coordinate effort and investment in the mental health workforce. It also considers workforce-specific clauses under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
The Working Group membership extends to all governments, individuals with lived or living experience of mental ill-health and First Nations representatives.
The Working Group first met in March 2023 and will continue to meet periodically to drive joint action under the Strategy.
See the current membership list.
Chair: Darius Everett, Assistant Secretary, Services Branch, Commonwealth Government.
Secretariat: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Department), Commonwealth Government.
Organisation | Member Title |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care | Assistant Secretary, Services Branch, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Division |
| ACT Health Directorate | Chief Psychiatrist, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Division |
| NSW Ministry of Health | Director, Priority Programs, Mental Health Branch |
| NT Department of Health | Director, Strategic Projects, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch |
| QLD Health | Senior Director, Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy and Planning Branch |
| SA Health | Executive Director, Mental Health Strategy and Planning Branch |
| TAS Department of Health | Manager, Partnership Development State-wide Mental Health Services |
| VIC Department of Health | Director, Mental Health and Medical Workforce Section, Workforce Strategy and Planning Branch |
| WA Mental Health Commission | Assistant Director, Service Development, Commissioning and Programs |
| Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia | Chief Executive Officer |
| Individual | Carer Lived Experience Representative |
| Individual | Consumer Lived Experience Representative |
| Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre | First Nations Lived Experience Representative |
| Mental Health Australia | Chief Executive Officer |
The National Mental Health Workforce Sector Advisory Group has also been established to support the work of the National Mental Health Workforce Working Group. Representatives include national mental health workforce bodies, representative organisations for priority populations identified in the Strategy, national lived experience consumer and carer representatives, and State and Territory mental health peak bodies representing the community mental health sector. For more information, please visit the National Mental Health Workforce Sector Advisory Group and Network.
Contact
