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lands and waters on which we live, work and learn.
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National Mental Health Commission Advisory Council Appointed
The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) has appointed 17 members to a new Advisory Council. These members will bring different views and experiences to help guide the Commission’s work.
Date published:
The Advisory Council will give the Commission advice on Australia’s mental health system. This advice will help shape the Commission’s projects and find ways to improve the mental health system.
Advisory Council members include:
mental health peak bodies, including groups that represent mental health workers
mental health professionals with specialist knowledge
people with lived experience of mental health challenges
people from communities that are often more affected, such as LGBTQIA+ communities, culturally diverse communities, and people with disability.
The Commission’s Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Council, David McGrath, said, ‘The Commission works to make mental health and wellbeing systems more open and accountable. This includes tracking how money is spent on mental health and suicide prevention, giving advice to the Australian Government, and reporting on the mental health and suicide prevention systems.’
‘The Advisory Council will improve how we listen, learn, and respond. It will help us test our thinking early, strengthen the quality and credibility of our advice, and make sure our work reflects real life. It allows us to do this work in a consistent and transparent way. The range of member experience will support open discussion and well-informed advice,’ Mr McGrath said.
Council members also bring experience from government, community organisations and the private sector, as well as from rural and remote areas.
The Advisory Council held its first meeting on 30 April 2026.
National Mental Health Commission media contact Email: news@health.gov.au Telephone: 02 6289 7400
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Commission acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live, work and learn.
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.
