Community Mental Health Australia

25/05/2026

We love seeing our members out in the world championing community mental health, and Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition CEO Geoff Radford did exactly that in a recent episode of the Get Real: Talking Mental Health and Disability podcast.

Hosted by Emily Webb and Karenza Louis-Smith from ermha365, Get Real has frank, fearless conversations about mental health and disability in Australia. And Geoff brought plenty of both.

In the episode, Geoff speaks passionately about community mental health supports in the top end, the power of peer workers, the importance of First Nations-led and community-controlled services and more. He offers a grounded and thoughtful take on what the shift toward foundational supports could mean for people with psychosocial disability in the NT.

One highlight is his description of Enough Talk, Time for Action, a grassroots program from Daly River that has measurably improved all seven domains of the social and emotional wellbeing wheel. Proof, if you needed it, that community-led approaches work.
It is a great listen. Head to the Get Real podcast to hear the full conversation.

Or visit our website for links: https://cmha.org.au/spotlight-on-the-top-end-geoff-radford-on-get-real/

09/05/2026

Congratulations to the Australian Association of Peer Workers!

Earlier this week marked a genuinely significant moment for the mental health and su***de prevention sector, and for every peer worker who has ever wondered whether their role would be recognised, valued, and supported in a way that endures.

The establishment of the Australian Association of Peer Workers is that recognition. And it has been a long time coming.

Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) warmly congratulates the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, the Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre, and Mental Health Carers Australia on coming together to establish the Australian Association of Peer Workers and commends the Australian Government for delivering the seed funding to make this possible.

Peer workers bring something that cannot be taught from a textbook: the lived experience of navigating mental health challenges, often within the very systems they now help others to access. For too long, that contribution has been deeply valued on the ground and under-recognised at the structural level.

We know the difference that peer workers make in people's lives. The evidence is there. The stories are there. Now the national architecture to support them will be there too.

CMHA has had the privilege of working alongside the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre, and Mental Health Carers Australia for some time, and the relationships between our organisations are ones we hold with genuine respect.

The establishment of the Australian Association of Peer Workers is the next chapter in exactly that kind of collaboration, built on respect, equal standing, and a shared commitment to a mental health system that truly sees people.

“Our sincere congratulations to the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre and Mental Health Carers Australia, and to the peer workers who have advocated for this moment,” said Kerry Hawkins CEO of CMHA.

“Peer work is not a peripheral function of the mental health system, it is one of its most human expressions,” added Kerry.

“A national association that gives it national voice, standards, and career pathways is long overdue, and worth doing well,” she said.

Community Mental Health Australia looks forward to the ongoing collaboration with CEOs Priscilla Brice, Aunty Vicki McKenna, Katrina Armstrong and their teams.

15/03/2026

At the recent Mental Health Australia Expo at Parliament House, we showcased the Assisting Communities Through Direct Connection (ACDC) Project and its work exploring place-based approaches to meeting unmet need for psychosocial support.

Led by Community Mental Health Australia with State and Territory Community Mental Health Peaks and the National Lived Experience Peaks, the project is building evidence about mental health and wellbeing needs in communities and identifying practical ways to connect people with support earlier.

CMHA National Policy Director Kate Hawtin said the project is helping to strengthen the case for community-led solutions.

Read more: https://cmha.org.au/mental-health-australia-expo/

03/03/2026

We’re looking forward to joining colleagues from across the country at the upcoming 2026 Mental Health Sector Expo hosted by Mental Health Australia at Parliament House.

This event is always a valuable opportunity for our sector to come together in the heart of our nation’s capital, to connect with decision makers and to showcase the vital work being delivered in communities right across Australia. It is a chance to share ideas, strengthen relationships and highlight the impact of the mental health sector.

24/12/2025

The holiday season can be challenging for many of us.

For some this is a wonderful time of the year, and for some it can be tricky to navigate.

At CMHA we’re all trying to extend a little extra kindness to ourselves and to others this holiday season. Hopefully, this inspires you to do the same!

10/12/2025

09/12/2025

Every year on 10 December, the world marks Human Rights Day. It commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a document that continues to guide how we protect and uphold the inherent dignity of every person. The United Nations (UN) reminds us that human rights are universal, indivisible and fundamental to freedom, equality and justice for all.

“This year, as I reflect on the UN’s call to action, I cannot help but think about the people, families and communities across Australia who still struggle to have their rights recognised within our mental health system,” said Kerry Hawkins Community Mental Health (CMHA) CEO.

“At Community Mental Health Australia, we believe that a fair and just mental health system must be built on a foundation of human rights,” Kerry said.

“That means ensuring people are supported to live with dignity, to make decisions about their own care and to participate fully in their communities,” she commented.

“Human rights are not optional extras in mental health. They are the starting point for every policy, every service model and every interaction with the people we serve,” she said.

Read more: https://cmha.org.au/human-rights-its-time/

24/11/2025

Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) welcomes the release of The State of Australia’s Children 2025 Summary Report, which provides a clear and timely picture of how children and young people are faring across the country. While many children are thriving, the report makes it clear that far too many continue to be left behind by systems that were designed to keep them safe. It reflects what we see every day in community mental health: wellbeing is shaped by stable housing, financial security, safety, strong relationships and culturally safe support.

Read more: https://cmha.org.au/the-state-of-australias-children-report-shows-widening-inequities/

12/11/2025

Community Mental Health Australia joins fellow system reform Leadership Peaks: the Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre, the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance and Mental Health Carers Australia in welcoming the Government’s prompt release of the Productivity Commission’s Mental Health and Su***de Prevention Agreement Review Final Report.

We support the findings that the mental health and su***de prevention system in Australia needs to be improved.

Read the Joint Statement here:https://cmha.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Joint-Statement-National-Leadership-Peaks-12-Nov-2025.pdf

10/11/2025

Lest we forget.
Remembrance Day 2025.