Submissions

QAMH supports the mandatory registration of platform providers in the NDIS market to ensure safe, high-quality service delivery and fair workforce conditions. While upholding participant choice and control is important, it must be balanced with stronger safeguards, clear duty of care, and consistent workforce standards to improve service quality for people with psychosocial disability.

This submission provides feedback on the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024, supporting its focus on early intervention, cultural change, and stigma. QAMH suggests several areas for improvement. These include replacing the linear model of mental health with a dual continuum model, addressing the specific needs of First Nations Defence staff, and strengthening the development and inclusion of the Lived Experience workforce. The submission also emphasises the importance of implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, ensuring accountability to meet the needs of Australia’s Defence and veteran communities.

In this joint pre-budget submission to the Queensland government’s 2025 budget, QAMH, Arafmi Ltd, and MHLEPQ call on the Government to deliver long term solutions by: jointly funding with Federal government, the identified gap in Queensland’s psychosocial supports; expanding the support available to families and other members of regional, rural and remote communities who provide unpaid care for those experiencing mental health challenges; commencing preparatory work for the next iteration of the Better Care Together plan; and strengthening the embedding of Lived Experience across Queensland Government systems and services.

QAMH has submitted a comprehensive review of the PHN Business Model, addressing critical gaps and offering strategic insights to enhance community mental health services across Queensland. Our submission highlights the necessity for a revised PHN framework that genuinely supports effective service delivery and responds dynamically to local needs.

QAMH welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission's consultation paper regarding proposed legislative reforms to strengthen regulatory powers. As an organisation committed to person-led care and human rights, QAMH fundamentally supports efforts to protect participant safety and rights through appropriate oversight and regulation. QAMH recognises the importance of quality service provision and safeguarding participant wellbeing. However, we have concerns about the timing and approach of implementing these significant regulatory changes.

While addressing the gap in psychosocial supports outside the NDIS must be a top priority for governments, QAMH believe that there is a significant opportunity to develop a wellbeing focused ecosystem of support – utilising navigator supports based on social prescribing - to meet information, advice, referral and capacity building needs for all people with foundational support needs. We believe that these supports are required in addition to targeted psychosocial supports for people experiencing moderate to severe functional impacts due to mental illness. It also requires a well-resourced network of support groups and activities for people to be referred into, tailored to the needs of local communities.