Community-managed mental health peak welcomes ACT Labor funding commitment

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Media release

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT) represents the community-managed mental health sector in Canberra and the Territory, and is an advocate for its 54 member organisations and 192 associate members with lived and living experience of mental ill-health and carer experience. 

The MHCC ACT welcomes todays election commitment from ACT Labor for more mental health practitioners and psychologists in ACT public schools, new walk-in centres with advanced practice mental health nurses and practitioners, and a focus on an integrated youth mental health system and co-designing solutions to tackle loneliness.

The community-managed mental health sector delivers two-thirds of the ACT’s mental health services and yet only gets 13% of the total ACT Government mental health service funding. So it is particularly welcome to see an intention to increase this funding allocation to mental health community sector partners in the ACT who deliver critical mental health programs. 

MHCC ACT CEO Melanie Wilde stated that a 20% uplift in total mental health funding is critical to support social, community, and health services in meeting the growing needs of Canberrans, including those experiencing mental ill-health, disability, domestic violence, or homelessness. She stressed that this funding increase must also align with the ACT Mental Health Workforce Strategy.

“In alignment with the workforce strategy, it’s crucial that this new funding not only supports frontline services but also invests in strengthening capacity for data-driven planning and robust outcomes measurement—both within the ACT Health Department and across community sector organisations.”

Ms. Wilde also highlighted the need for strong governance and competitive remuneration.

“As we work toward reform, it’s crucial that community-managed organisations are held to high governance standards. The principle of ‘same work, same pay’ must be respected, particularly when it comes to executive salaries. If we don’t address leadership pay equity, we risk losing the vital expertise and leadership needed to guide our sector through these necessary reforms.”

“I know that data, governance, workforce competitiveness, and capacity building in the public and community sectors may not be the most headline-grabbing topics, but they are the threads that weave together a more resilient, effective mental health care system” Wilde said. 

These priorities reflect key elements of the Framework for Action 2023-2026 and its 2024 Work Plan, ensuring that the mental health workforce is well-supported to deliver high-quality care while fostering innovation, education, and lived experience.

Media contacts:

Melanie Wilde, 0401 518 562 | melanie.wilde@mhccact.org.au

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