The Commission acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away
The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
As an Australian Government agency, our decisions must be transparent, our policies credible and our practices fair and ethical. We are committed to achieving well-coordinated, efficient and accountable administration. We comply with legislative and mandatory government reporting obligations, including those set out below.
2023 APS Employee Census
The APS Employee Census is an annual survey that provides insights into employees’ views about the APS, their agency and their workplace. It helps agencies to identify and target strategies to build and enhance capability in the workplace.
The 2023 APS Employee Census results for the National Mental Health Commission are available below.
In April 2023, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, initiated an independent investigation into the Commission in response to allegations made public through the media. The allegations were of a serious and significant nature and canvassed a broad range of organisational and staff wellbeing matters. In summary, the reports confirmed that all staff have been dedicated to the Commission’s work and mission, but the Commission had a poor workplace culture and had outgrown its existing systems, practices, and capabilities. The Commission’s 2023 APS Census results align with these conclusions. The Commission has begun working with the Department of Health and Aged Care to address these findings and to continue to support staff wellbeing.
Senate Order 192 on Agency Contracts (Murray Motion)
Pursuant to the Senate Order for Departmental and Agency Contracts (as amended December 2003), the contracts entered into by the National Mental Health Commission which provide for a consideration to the value of $100 000 or more are set out below.
Details of our procurement contracts are available from the AusTender website.
Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines reporting
In line with the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines, our grants are reported on GrantConnect, the Australian Government's grants information system.
Senate Order 16 (Minchin Motion) agency grants reporting requirements
In accordance with Minchin Motion (Senate Order 16), agencies are required to table in the Senate a list of all grants approved by the Minister no later than seven days before the commencement of budget estimates, supplementary budget estimates and additional estimates hearings. Since 2022, the Commission's Minchin Motion grants listings have been published on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Under the Legal Services Directions 2017 agencies are required to make publicly available a record of their legal services expenditure for the previous financial year.
Under APSC Guidance agency heads must publish a register of gifts and benefits they accept on their agency website on a quarterly basis. All gifts or benefits accepted by Commission staff (and valued at over $AUD100.00 (excluding GST), are reported below:
Under Senate Order 12, agencies are required to publish an indexed list of relevant files created or updated by the agency in the past 12 months. Relevant files include those that relate to our policy advising functions. The Commission's Harradine file listings are published on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia. We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
