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Australians for Mental Health has welcomed the federal government’s decision to lock in more than $1 billion for mental health care in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, saying the investment will help ease pressure on services at a time of growing need in communities like the Hawkesbury.
The budget update confirms a major expansion of mental health services and workforce support, including $500 million for a new national network of 20 Youth Specialist Care Centres, $267.3 million for 32 new and upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres, $225.3 million for 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace services, and $83.9 million to fund additional training places for mental health professionals and peer workers.
Australians for Mental Health Executive Director Chris Gambian said the funding was a crucial step in responding to what has become a nationwide mental health crisis.
“This is a significant injection which will help ease pressure on strained services across the country,” Mr Gambian said. “Tackling this issue will require big commitments such as this. But we also know we can’t treat our way out of this crisis alone.”
He said mental health outcomes were shaped by a wide range of factors beyond the health system, including housing security, employment, social connection and community resilience.
For communities like the Hawkesbury, these factors are very real. The region has lived through repeated natural disasters, including bushfires and floods, which place enormous psychological strain on residents long after the physical recovery begins.
Local service providers and community groups have also raised concerns about vulnerable young people, particularly in the wake of disasters, social isolation and the growing impact of social media on mental wellbeing. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among Australians under 40, underscoring the urgency of early intervention and youth-focused support.
Mr Gambian said the combination of service expansion and workforce investment was essential, but broader reform was also needed.
Australians for Mental Health is calling on the federal government to take further bold action, including passing a Wellbeing Act to embed mental health considerations into all policymaking, appointing a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing within the Prime Minister’s department, and establishing an independent Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioner to hold governments accountable.
“Embedding wellbeing into decision-making across all levels of government could significantly improve lives,” Mr Gambian said.
This funding is an important step, but addressing the mental health challenges facing communities like the Hawkesbury will require a whole-of-government response that looks beyond healthcare alone.
