A United Voice for the
Community Mental
Health & Wellbeing Sector
Advocating for Better Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Across Queensland
Collective Benefit through Collaboration
We are stronger when we work together. Join us to connect, contribute, and shape the future of community mental health.
Integrity with
Impact
Curiosity Fuels
Innovation
We don’t just ask what’s possible. We try it. Our projects turn insight into impact.
Courage to
Disrupt
We speak up where it matters. We work to shift systems, influence policy, and lead change for our sector.
We’re counting down the weeks towards the Connecting for Impact Conference and on Day 2 the Workfo…
9
0
This week’s Membership spotlight shines on Mind Australia, and its Executive Director – Queensland, So…
5
0
The Health Ministers met last Friday to discuss the state of mental health services across the country, and with…
9
0
QAMH member Youth Insearch is a peer-led intervention program that supports young people through their…
9
0
As you wrap up the year in your Cert IV Mental Health, Peer Work, or Community Services programs, consider rounding things off with our new micro-credential: Introduction to the Community Mental Health Sector.
This free, self-paced 2-3 hour course provides a practical overview of the sector, helping students:
• understand sector language and the bigger picture
• explore real roles and pathways from Queensland workers
• think in a person-led, relational way
• build confidence before placement
It’s a great way to help student make sense of the sector and prepare them for their next steps. Access it now! https://www.qamh.org.au/courses/introduction-to-the-community-mental-health-sector/
In November, QAMH joined HumanAbility’s workshop on VET enrolments and completions, exploring why students disengage and how to lift completion rates.
With only 31% of Queensland students finishing community services qualifications in 2024, strengthening the VET pathway is critical to building a sustainable community mental health workforce.
Drawing on insights from our Peer Work Scholarship Program and Mental Health Industry Connector Project, we shared insights about:
• the impact of strong mentoring and industry connections in keeping students engaged
• the need for better placement support — including options like paid placements and traineeships to reduce financial barriers.
• providing clear pre-enrolment guidance on course expectations, placement requirements and workforce realities.
These conversations are essential as we work together to support students and grow Queensland’s community mental health workforce. Read the research here: https://humanability.com.au/projects/enrolments-and-completions-research.aspx
This week, we spotlight Basic Rights Queensland (BRQ) and its CEO, James Farrell. BRQ is a vital state-wide community legal centre, offering free, holistic legal services, advocacy, education, and support. Dedicated to advancing rights to social security, workplace justice, and protection from discrimination, BRQ champions fair and just outcomes for all.
Anyone facing workplace issues, Centrelink challenges, or discrimination can access help by calling BRQ’s support line at 1800 358 511.
Support your new staff from day one.
Our new (and free) micro-credential: Introduction to the Community Mental Health Sector gives new workers a clear, consistent foundation no matter their background.
It covers the essentials that many new staff struggle with in their first months:
• Understanding how the wider mental health system fits together
• Knowing what community mental health services actually do
• Seeing the diversity of services, roles and pathways
• Building confidence when everything feels new
Use it as part of your induction to reduce overwhelm, answer the big “where do I fit?” questions, and set your team up. Enrol with a shared language and grounding.
Register to complete the micro-credential here: https://www.qamh.org.au/registration/?ld_register_id=4600
“The Australian youth mental health system is no longer sufficient to address the growing complexity of mental health challenges faced by young people.” — Youth Mental Health Models of Care Final Report
The final Youth Mental Health Models of Care report shows clear signs of QAMH’s advocacy in action. We called for community-led, holistic and culturally safe support for young people - and many of these priorities now feature strongly in the national direction for reform.
Our influence is reflected in key areas, including:
- Expanded focus on integrated non-clinical psychosocial support through Community Youth Wellbeing Hubs
- Recognition of social determinants such as housing, education, connection and cultural safety
- A stronger role for peer workers, youth workers and lived experience
- Greater emphasis on navigation, continuity of care, and secure, sustainable commissioning
But there’s more to do.
We still need genuine First Nations leadership in model design, greater focus on school-based early intervention support, and dedicated investment in the community-led mental health sector to make these reforms real in practice.
Read the final report here: https://www.orygen.org.au/Orygen-Institute/Youth-Mental-Health-Models-Of-Care/Final-Advice
QAMH has launched a new micro-credential designed by our sector, for our sector. Introduction to the Community Mental Health Sector is the first of three DTET-funded micro-credentials and designed to support new starters understand where community mental health fits within the broader system and how their strengths align with the work. It can also help managers with onboarding and inductions.
In just 2–3 hours, participants explore core principles including person-led, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, supported by real insights from workers across Queensland. Expect interactive activities, practical scenarios, and guidance on support pathways and further learning.
Watch our video or enrol now:
Link in bio. https://www.qamh.org.au/registration/
People experiencing mental health challenges needing psychosocial support continue to face hidden and systemic forms of discrimination that restrict access to housing, education, work and community life.
In our submission to the Attorney-General’s Department, QAMH welcomes the review of the Disability Discrimination Act as a critical opportunity to modernise Australia’s anti-discrimination laws and strengthen fairness, inclusion and participation. We’re calling for reform that links rights with the community supports people need to participate fully in everyday life, and recommend:
- Modern, recovery-focused definitions of disability that reflect psychosocial disability and use inclusive, rights-based language.
- An enforceable positive duty to eliminate disability discrimination, supported by stronger Australian Human Rights Commission powers.
- Sustained investment in community-managed mental health organisations that already model inclusive practice.
- A tailored implementation framework providing practical tools and training for non-profit, regional and lived experience-led services.
Read our submission on our website on the Advocacy page.
QAMH’s 2024 - 2025 Annual Report highlights a year of continued transformation and strengthened member collaboration. Explore our key achievements including our partnerships, projects, advocacy with impact, and the launch of Queensland’s first Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy. The report showcases a united sector advancing supports to build a stronger, more inclusive community mental health system for Queensland. Download your copy at the link in our bio.
Australia’s mental health system is not fit for purpose and the Productivity Commission’s Final Report makes that unmistakably clear. QAMH welcomes and backs the call for a complete reset built on prevention, community-led supports, lived experience leadership, and secure long-term funding. Many of our core advocacy priorities are reflected Commission’s recommendations: sustained outcomes-based funding, shared psychosocial responsibility, genuine co-design, and cross-sector integration. But recommendations are meaningless without action. Governments must now deliver the investment, accountability, and reform Queenslanders deserve.
Read our briefing on the report here: https://www.qamh.org.au/qamh-response-on-the-productivity-commissions-final-report-on-the-national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-agreement/
QAMH is pleased to announce the appointment of Cameron Thayer as Board Member – Elected Director.
Cameron brings extensive leadership experience and a strong commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing services across Queensland. He says, "It is truly a privilege to join the QAMH Board and team and to add my lived experience and professional leadership to supporting the advocacy and work needed for better mental health and wellbeing services across Queensland. As someone who is passionate about effectively challenging and changing the status quo so that we can reshape service systems to meet community needs, I look forward to working with the QAMH Board and team to help guide and deliver an ambitious and focused strategic plan that represents what is core to the wellbeing of our community and the success of the community mental health sector."
A community-focused executive leader, Cameron has 18 years’ experience driving mission-led growth across community and commercial sectors. With qualifications in psychology and an MBA, he is recognised for strategic leadership, strong partnerships and his dedication to improving community wellbeing. At Karakan, he leads place-based, recovery-oriented services across Logan, South Brisbane and Ipswich, advancing initiatives including STEPS Transitional Living and YouthKan.
QAMH also extends sincere thanks to Melanie Sennett who, after 6 years of service concludes her tenure as Deputy Chair (Elected Director). Melanie’s clinical insight, system-reform expertise and global perspective have strengthened and added lasting value to QAMH and the wider community mental health sector.
We were pleased to officially launch the new QAMH website on Friday, along with Queensland’s first searchable Community Mental Health Services Map. This redevelopment represents much more than a refreshed look; it marks a deliberate step forward in how we share information, strengthen visibility of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector, and support Queenslanders to find the community-based mental health supports they need.
The new website is designed to be clearer, easier to navigate and more accessible for our Members, partners and the public. It provides a stronger platform to showcase our advocacy, workforce projects and sector insights, and reflects the professionalism and energy of a sector that continues to grow in both scope and influence. A major feature of this work is the new Community Mental Health Services Map. This map brings together the breadth of community mental health and wellbeing services across Queensland in one place, creating a practical entry point for people seeking local supports and offering greater visibility of the organisations that contribute so much to their communities. Over time, the map will continue to develop, including the introduction of filters that will allow people to search by service type to find support that meets their needs. We encourage our Member organisations to ensure their information is up to date and to contact us at members@qamh.org.au if they would like to add any additional service locations.
We are proud to share this next stage of QAMH’s digital presence and look forward to continuing to build tools that connect people to support, elevate the work of our Members and strengthen understanding of the sector’s impact across Queensland. Explore the new website and the Member Services Map at qamh.org.au.
Wednesday, 19 November 2025 from 3.00pm to 4.00pm - you are invited to explore QAMH’s brand-new micro-credential, Introduction to the Community Mental Health Sector, created for our sector, by our sector! This first-of-three micro-credentials is funded by the Queensland Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET) and is designed to enhance sector learning. In this session, Sasha Sullivan, QAMH’s Learning Designer, will walk you through the core features and goals of this resource, shaped by insights from across the community mental health sector. Learn how it can support new staff or those transitioning from related fields, providing a clear, engaging introduction to the sector’s values, services, and key approaches.
If you are part of a Member organisation and you do not have the link in your calendar, email us at members@qamh.org.au and we’ll make sure you’re included.
Today at our Annual Alliance Meeting we were proud to launch the QAMH Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030. This plan reflects what our members have told us matters most for the future of community mental health in Queensland. Built around four pillars of Advocacy, Innovation, Connection and Sustainability, the plan sets out a clear direction for how we will champion community-led mental health supports and strengthen mental health for all Queenslanders.
Emily Wolter facilitated a panel with our Member-elected directors, Melanie Sennett, Tanya O`Shea, and Belinda CHELIUS, who shared their insights on where QAMH is headed and the opportunities ahead for our sector. Their perspectives remind us that our direction is grounded in lived experience, community expertise, and the realities of frontline service delivery.
You can view our Strategic Plan at the link in our bio. We look forward to partnering with our Members, communities, and stakeholders to turn this bold plan into impact.
The Australian Psychosocial Alliance’s Access Denied: Psychosocial Disability and the NDIS report exposes the alarming decline in NDIS access for people with psychosocial disability – a reduction far greater than for any other disability group.
QAMH`s own advocacy has repeatedly highlighted the growing gap between people excluded from the NDIS and the absence of alternative community-based supports. While governments work to design a system of Foundational Supports, the reality is that many people with moderate to complex mental health needs are being left with nowhere to turn.
We echo the report’s call for urgent action to restore fair, expert-led access to the NDIS and to invest in a robust system of community psychosocial supports outside it. air access and strong community supports must go hand in hand to ensure people aren’t left waiting, or worse, left behind.
Read the Access Denied report at the link in our bio.
This week QAMH proudly Spotlight Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation and their Chief Operating Officer, Alison Schultz.
Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation is a mental health, not-for-profit, supporting young people aged 8–18 who are growing up in families impacted by mental health challenges.
Through fun, evidence-based programs, Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation help kids build mental health literacy, learn to reach out for help, and connect with peers who understand - empowering young people with the tools they need for lifelong wellbeing.
We thank Alison and her team of clinicians, program staff and volunteers for the work they do every day to help their Kookaburra Kids.
Join us for the 2025 QAMH Annual Alliance Meeting on Friday 14 November 2025 at the Precinct in Fortitude Valley.
Hear from QAMH CEO Emily Wolter, Board Chair Cathy O`Toole, Board Finance Chair Chris Skelton and Queensland Mental Health Commission Ivan Frkovic about achievements and future plans. We will also facilitate a panel of our Member-Elected Board Directors to launch the QAMH 2025 -2028 Strategic Plan and our Member Service Map. Members and non-members welcome! RSVP by Friday 31 October 2025.
Register now via the link in our bio
This event will also be live-streamed and recorded. To RSVP for the livestream only event, please register using the link by Tuesday 11 November 2025.
The Productivity Commission’s final report on the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement is now with Parliament, and its release is imminent.
The Interim Report made it clear: the current system is not fit for purpose. It failed to deliver reform, leaving hundreds of thousands of Australians without the psychosocial supports they need to live well in their communities.
Real reform starts with sustained investment in community-based, culturally safe and person-centred supports - so people can get the right help, at the right time, close to home.
Read our past Response to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report: National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement from our website: https://www.qamh.org.au/works/interim-report-national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-agreement/
Connect with community mental health and wellbeing providers across Rockhampton. Join our online session to share local updates, discuss system challenges and opportunities, and influence QAMH’s advocacy and policy priorities.
It’s also a chance to strengthen existing connections and make new ones with others working across the community mental health and wellbeing sector.
Date: Monday 3 November 2025
Time: 11:00AM – 12:30PM
Online via Microsoft Teams
Register your interest by emailing Justine at jbastow@qamh.org.au and share this invitation with your networks.
The election for the QAMH Board Member-Elected Director position opened at 9am today, 22 October 2025, and closes at 10am on Monday, 10 November 2025. Voting is via secure electronic ballot, managed by TrueVote. Check your inbox! Eligible General Alliance Members will receive an email with voting instructions and a link to nominee profiles.
Questions? Contact the Company Secretary at qamhboard@qamh.org.au.
QAMH’s Regional and Rural Roadshow: 5,600km of Advocacy and Insight
Over the past 3 months, Deputy CEO Chloe Jesson and Policy and Impact Officer Justine Bastow hit the road, travelling over 5,600km to connect with eight Queensland communities. At six events and multiple service visits, locals shared insights on service gaps for children under 12, workforce shortages, and the difficulties faced by the sector to deliver services across vast distances. Despite the challenges, the message was clear: community truly is at the heart of regional mental health services which are powered by collaboration, creativity, and unwavering dedication. Thank you to all who joined us, your voices were heard. Stay tuned for our Regional, Rural and Remote Insights Report, which will shape and strengthen our advocacy beyond the south-east corner.
