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
NMHCCF@mhaustralia.org
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
natreg@mhaustralia.org
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
contact.us@mentalhealthcarersaustralia.org.au
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 actmhcn@actmhcn.org.au 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 carers@carersact.org.au 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.
NSW	Being 1300 234 640 info@being.org.au 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 MHCNadmin@mentalhealthcarersnsw.org 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.
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) info@lelan.org.au 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 admin@flourishtas.org.au 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.
Vic	Tandem (03) 8803 5555 info@tandemcarers.org.au 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 reception@vmiac.org.au www.vmiac.org.au VMIAC is the peak Victorian organisation for people with lived experience of mental ill-health or emotional challenges.
WA	Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) (08) 9258 8911 admin@comhwa.org.au 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
indigenouslec@blackdog.org.au
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 admin@mhccact.org.au 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 info@mhcc.org.au 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 eo@ntmhc.org.au 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 administration@mhcsa.org.au 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 enquiries@mhct.org 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 mhvic@mhvic.org.au 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 MHAODB-ED@health.qld.gov.au
SA	(08) 8226 1091 healthocp@sa.gov.au
Tas	(03) 6166 0778 chief.psychiatrist@health.tas.gov.au
Vic	(03) 9096 7571 ocp@dhhs.vic.gov.au
WA	(08) 6553 0000 reception@ocp.wa.gov.au

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 enquiries@mentalhealthcommission.gov.au www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
NSW	Mental Health Commission of New South Wales (02) 9859 5200 mhc@mhc.nsw.gov.au nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au
Qld	Queensland Mental Health Commission 1300 855 945 info@qmhc.qld.gov.au www.qmhc.qld.gov.au
SA	South Australian Mental Health Commission, Wellbeing SA 1300 293 220 samhc@sa.gov.au 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 Help with complaints: Official Visitors	ACT Human Rights Commission (02) 6205 2222 human.rights@act.gov.au hrc.act.gov.au
NSW	Official Community Visitors (02) 9407 1831 OCV@adc.nsw.gov.au	Health Care Complaints Commission 1800 043 159 www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
NT	NT Community Visitor Program (08) 8999 1451 cvpprogramadc@nt.gov.au cvp.nt.gov.au	Health and Community Services Complaints Commission (08) 8999 1969 hcscc@nt.gov.au 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 info@oho.qld.gov.au www.oho.qld.gov.au
SA	SA Community Visitor Scheme 1800 606 302 cvs@sa.gov.au communityvisitorscheme.sa.gov.au	Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (08) 8226 8652 info@hcscc.sa.gov.au www.hcscc.sa.gov.au
Tas	Mental Health Official Visitors 1800 001 170 officialvisitors@ombudsman.tas.gov.au www.officialvisitors.tas.gov.au	Health Complaints Commissioner 1800 001 170 health.complaints@ombudsman.tas.gov.au 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 help@mhcc.vic.gov.au www.mhcc.vic.gov.au
WA	Mental Health Advocacy Service (08) 6234 6300 contactus@mhas.wa.gov.au https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/mental-health-advocacy-service	Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) (08) 6551 7600 mail@hadsco.wa.gov.au

Last updated:

26 September 2023

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Appendix 3 Organisations and key contacts

Organisations and key contacts

National consumer and carer organisations

State and territory consumer and carer organisation

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health organisations

Mental Health Peak Bodies

Chief Psychiatrists

Mental Health Commissions

Handling Bodies for Oversight and Complaints

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