Appendix 3 Organisations and key contacts
Organisations and key contacts
National consumer and carer organisations
| National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) (02) 6285 3100 [email protected] nmhccf.org.au The NMHCCF is a combined national voice for mental health consumers and carers. NMHCCF members represent mental health consumers and carers on a range of national bodies, including government committees and advisory groups, professional bodies, and other consultative forums and events. |
| National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives (02) 6285 3100 [email protected] mhaustralia.org/report/national-register-mental-health-consumers-and-carers The National Register is a pool of trained mental health consumer and carer representatives from across Australia. They work at the national level to provide a strong consumer and carer voice in the mental health sector. |
| Lived Experience Australia 1300 620 042 www.livedexperienceaustralia.com.au Formerly known as the Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network. |
| Mental Health Carers Australia [email protected] www.mentalhealthcarersaustralia.org.au Mental Health Carers Australia is a national advocacy group focusing on the wellbeing of mental health carers, and promoting their needs. |
State and territory consumer and carer organisation
| ACT | ACT Mental Health Consumer Network (02) 6230 5796 [email protected] www.actmhcn.org.au The ACT Mental Health Consumer Network is a consumer-led peak organisation representing the interests of mental health consumers in the Australian Capital Territory in policy and decision-making forums. |
| Carers ACT (02) 6296 9900 [email protected] www.carersact.org.au Carers ACT is the peak body for carers in the Australian Capital Territory. It supports those who assist someone who has a disability, is ageing or has an ongoing mental or other illness. |
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| NSW | Being 1300 234 640 [email protected] being.org.au Being is an independent, state-wide peak organisation for people with a lived/living experience of mental health issues (consumers) in New South Wales. |
| Mental Health Carers NSW (02) 9332 0777 [email protected] www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org Mental Health Carers NSW provides systemic advocacy and support for families, relatives and friends of people who experience mental illness, living in New South Wales. |
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| NT | Helping Minds and Carers NT (08) 9427 7100 helpingminds.org.au |
| Qld | ARAFMI (07) 3254 1881 www.arafmi.com.au ARAFMI provides support services for families and friends of people with mental illness and psychiatric disability in Queensland. |
| SA | Lived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN) [email protected] www.lelan.org.au LELAN is an independent organisation that is run by, for and with people with personal lived experience of mental health issues (i.e. consumers) in South Australia. Its purpose is to amplify the voice, influence and leadership of people with lived experience to drive systemic change. |
| Tas | Flourish Tasmania (03) 6223 1952 [email protected] flourishtas.org.au Flourish aims to provide a strong voice for people with lived experience of mental ill-health in Tasmania. Its purpose is to offer input and expertise on lived experience to mental health policy and services, and to reduce discrimination and stigma surrounding mental health. |
| Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania (MHFFTas) (03) 6228 7448 mhfamiliesfriendstas.org.au MHFFTas (formerly Mental Health Carers Tasmania) provides support to families, friends and carers of people living with mental health issues and mental illness in Tasmania. |
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| Vic | Tandem (03) 8803 5555 [email protected] www.tandemcarers.org.au Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing family and friends who support people living with mental health issues. |
| Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) (03) 9380 3900 [email protected] www.vmiac.org.au VMIAC is the peak Victorian organisation for people with lived experience of mental ill-health or emotional challenges. |
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| WA | Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) (08) 9258 8911 [email protected] www.comhwa.org.au CoMHWA is Western Australia’s mental health consumer association, providing education and training, peer support and systemic advocacy. |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health organisations
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Network [email protected] www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-network This newly established network within the Black Dog Institute is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It aims to develop and support a ‘workforce’ of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates to inform, influence and enhance culturally appropriate suicide prevention activities and mental health support programs for First Nations peoples. |
| Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia www.gayaadhuwi.org.au Gayaa Dhuwi is the national leadership group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention. |
| National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) (02) 6246 9300 www.naccho.org.au NACCHO is the national peak body representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across Australia on Aboriginal health and wellbeing issues. |
Mental health peak bodies
| National | Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) (02) 9060 9629 cmha.org.au CMHA is a coalition of community mental health organisations from each state and territory of Australia. It was established to provide leadership and direction to promote the importance and benefits of community mental health and recovery services across Australia. Mental Health Australia (02) 6285 3100 mhaustralia.org Mental Health Australia is a peak national non-government organisation representing and promoting the interests of the Australian mental health sector. |
| ACT | Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT) (02) 6249 7756 [email protected] www.mhccact.org.au MHCC ACT is the peak body representing the community-managed mental health sector in the ACT. |
| NSW | Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) (02) 9060 9627 [email protected] www.mhcc.org.au MHCC is the peak body for community-managed mental health organisations in New South Wales. |
| NT | Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition (NTMHC) (08) 8948 2246 [email protected] www.ntmhc.org.au The NTMHC is the peak body for community-managed mental health services across the Northern Territory. |
| Qld | Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (07) 3252 9411 www.qamh.org.au Queensland Alliance for Mental Health is the peak body for mental health service providers and the wider mental health community in Queensland. |
| SA | Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (08) 8212 8873 [email protected] www.mhcsa.org.au The Mental Health Coalition of South Australia is the peak body for the non-government mental health sector in South Australia. |
| Tas | Mental Health Council of Tasmania (03) 6224 9222 [email protected] mhct.org The Mental Health Council of Tasmania is the peak body for community-managed mental health services in Tasmania. |
| Vic | Mental Health Victoria (03) 9519 7000 [email protected] www.mhvic.org.au Mental Health Victoria is the peak body for mental health service providers in Victoria. |
| WA | Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) (08) 6246 3000 waamh.org.au WAAMH is the peak body for community mental health in Western Australia. |
Chief psychiatrists
Chief psychiatrists are appointed by state and territory health departments to provide advice and leadership on mental health needs in their jurisdiction. Chief psychiatrists also respond to complaints about psychiatric practice and treatment provided by public mental health services.
Contact details for the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist in each state and territory are listed below.
| ACT | (02) 6205 1313 |
| NSW | c/o Mental Health Branch (02) 9391 9000 |
| NT | c/o Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch (08) 8999 2829 |
| Qld | c/o Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch [email protected] |
| SA | (08) 8226 1091 [email protected] |
| Tas | (03) 6166 0778 [email protected] |
| Vic | (03) 9096 7571 [email protected] |
| WA | (08) 6553 0000 [email protected] |
Mental health commissions
Mental health commissions are independent government agencies that monitor, and provide advice on, mental health policy and services in their jurisdiction.
| National | National Mental Health Commission (02) 8229 7550 [email protected] www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au |
| NSW | Mental Health Commission of New South Wales (02) 9859 5200 [email protected] nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au |
| Qld | Queensland Mental Health Commission 1300 855 945 [email protected] www.qmhc.qld.gov.au |
| SA | South Australian Mental Health Commission, Wellbeing SA 1300 293 220 [email protected] www.samentalhealthcommission.com.au |
| WA | Western Australian Mental Health Commission (08) 6553 0600 www.mhc.wa.gov.au |
Handling bodies for oversight and complaints
Official visitors and community visitors are independent observers who monitor treatment and conditions in mental health facilities. Their role is to protect the rights and dignity of people in these facilities, particularly those receiving compulsory treatment.
Healthcare complaints commissions are independent government agencies that deal with complaints about health service providers.
| Jurisdiction | Visitors | Complaints |
| ACT | ACT Official Visitor Scheme 1800 150 036 www.ptg.act.gov.au/visitor-scheme |
ACT Human Rights Commission (02) 6205 2222 [email protected] hrc.act.gov.au |
| NSW | Official Community Visitors (02) 9407 1831 [email protected] |
Health Care Complaints Commission 1800 043 159 www.hccc.nsw.gov.au |
| NT | NT Community Visitor Program (08) 8999 1451 [email protected] cvp.nt.gov.au |
Health and Community Services Complaints Commission (08) 8999 1969 [email protected] www.hcscc.nt.gov.au |
| Qld | Community Visitors c/o Office of the Public Guardian 1800 661 533 |
Office of the Health Ombudsman 133 646 [email protected] www.oho.qld.gov.au |
| SA | SA Community Visitor Scheme 1800 606 302 [email protected] communityvisitorscheme.sa.gov.au |
Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (08) 8226 8652 [email protected] www.hcscc.sa.gov.au |
| Tas | Mental Health Official Visitors 1800 001 170 [email protected] www.officialvisitors.tas.gov.au |
Health Complaints Commissioner 1800 001 170 [email protected] www.healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au |
| Vic | Community Visitors c/o Office of the Public Advocate 1300 309 337 |
Mental Health Complaints Commissioner 1800 246 054 [email protected] www.mhcc.vic.gov.au |
| WA |
Mental Health Advocacy Service |
Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) (08) 6551 7600 [email protected] www.hadsco.wa.gov.au/home |
