Media Releases

More than 90 ninety mental health and social services organisations have joined forces to review the way services are provided to people affected by mental illness in Australia, following their first ever Council of Non-Government Organisations ( CONGO ) on Mental Health meeting in Canberra. “In many ways, Australia is already a world-leader in mental health” says Frank Quinlan, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia, which co-hosted the historic meeting along with the National Mental Health Commission.

The Hon. Mark Butler MP , Minister for Mental Health joined fellow parliamentarians and mental health sector advocates and stakeholders at a breakfast to officially launch World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2012. One-in-five people will experience mental illness this year. It’s an astounding statistic but one that for too long has not made headlines. “We want people to know that whoever they are and wherever they live, they’re not alone”, says Frank Quinlan, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has welcomed the introduction of Commonwealth legislation to protect the ability of contracted non-government organisations to advocate for better policy and legislation. “Non-government organisations, who are delivering services at the frontline, are often best placed to share their insights to advance better policy and better legislation”, said Frank Quinlan, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia, and member of the Gillard Government’s Not-for-Profit Reform Council.

The Mental Health Council of Australia today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will give people with lived experience of mental health a greater voice in mental health reform.