Media Release  

– For Immediate Release

Mental Health services will close unless Commonwealth funding restored February 28, 2023 – For Immediate Release Queensland’s peak body for community mental health services is calling for immediate federal funding certainty for dozens of crucial mental health services across the state, which face a “funding cliff” and closure on June 30.

These community mental health services provide essential support for people experiencing mental health challenges. If the federal funding is not renewed, many services will have to stop operating, leaving people without any support.

IMPACT Community Services in Queensland’s Wide Bay region is facing this predicament which means it is at risk of losing key mental health staff, including nurses, counsellors, social workers, and mental health coaches.

“My staff are superstars and are supporting many people, who otherwise would receive very little or no mental health support,” IMPACT General Manager Steve Beer says.

“But without funding certainty I can’t write new contracts for them and it’s hardly fair on these staff to leave them without job security.”

Jennifer Black, CEO of QAMH, says there needs to be broader structural change in funding arrangements.

“QAMH is calling for stable funding with five-year contracts for services funded by the Commonwealth,” Ms Black said.

“The funding also needs to be indexed at a realistic rate to help services keep up with increases in general running costs.”

The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health represents over 100 members and stakeholders in the Queensland Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector.

Download the PDF here: Mental Health services will close unless Commonwealth funding restored

Please consider how you report on mental health issues. Consult mindframe guidelines: https://mindframe.org.au/mental-health/communicating-about-mental-ill-health/mindframe-guidelines

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Media contact:
Emma Griffiths
QAMH Director – Advocacy and Communications
Queensland Alliance for Mental Health
M: 0439 971 080
E: egriffiths@qamh.org.au