Australia’s national strategy to improve mental health and prevent suicide is coming under fire. Yet the system, according to a recent Inquiry Report from the Productivity Commission, has been declared “not fit for purpose.” The commission’s findings indicate that the current agreement, signed in 2022, has failed to yield any tangible improvements in the mental health system, leaving many Australians with complex conditions without adequate care. The nation is in the midst of an escalating mental health crisis. In response, public health advocates are calling for a full reimagining of the existing proposal.
The interim report paints a devastating picture of Australia’s mental health crisis. With such urgency, it is baffling that mental health and suicide rates have not drastically improved in past years. With increasing demands for care amid workforce shortages and limited mental health beds, officials are emphasizing the need for immediate action.
Selwyn Button, co-commissioner and Gungarri man, called attention to the disconnect built into the system as it currently exists. He underscored the fact that most reconnecting initiatives are highly uncoordinated, which is counterproductive to the cause. Button President Joe Dwyer urged better early intervention tactics to stop suicide before it started.
Structural Issues Identified
Health Minister Mark Butler welcomed the findings, recognising serious structural flaws in the existing agreement. He stated, “The interim report is ambitious in what it has outlined, the scale of reform needed, and the need for governments to take the adequate amount of time to get it right.” He noted how important it will be to get this right, particularly for those that will be counting on mental health services.
The report explains that the current Compact is set to expire in July of 2026. Proposed to be extended to 2027 by the Productivity Commission. This extension would allow the kind of time needed to craft a new, better, more effective agreement. We need to ensure that we design this new plan in conjunction with consumers, carers and service providers. Their insights are critical to make sure it truly addresses the needs of everyone impacted by mental health crises.
Angela Jackson, another commissioner on the Australian Productivity Commission, explained that, given the IA’s current agreement, transformative change is improbable. She stated, “Unfortunately what we’ve found is there are lofty ambitions, but the actions made under the agreement were never going to deliver those objectives.” Jackson has pointed out that future mega-deals must include specific outcomes measures and increased accountability.
Urgent Need for Support Services
While experts are just beginning to dissect the results, there is already a clear consensus on the need for increased psychosocial support services. These smart, efficient, essential services are how you get people to the right resources. They develop crucial daily living skills, particularly for those excluded from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Selwyn Button pointed out the importance of prioritizing these services. He said, “This really needs to be prioritised … and we have the expertise, we just need to get the right people at the table.” These existing gaps in our service provision—as modeled in the ideas below—can leave countless individuals without the crucial support services that might address their mental health needs.
Further reinforcing this message, Dr. Clinton Schultz called for innovation in treatment modalities. He stated, “We’re generating strong evidence around what works – particularly in novel treatments – but there’s still no mechanism to bring that innovation into the public system.” Until these gaps are fixed, chances to truly help people find real job opportunities will keep being missed.
The Path Forward
The Productivity Commission’s report is an alarm bell for Australian policymakers. With demand for mental health services at crisis levels, advocates and stakeholders are calling for urgent action to reform the current plan. Minister for Health, Mark Butler, noted the urgent need to tackle these challenges. It will ensure every Australian experiencing a mental health crisis gets the best possible care.
Talks to bring about a big-picture mental health reform are still in the works. One thing is pretty clear — whatever the next deal looks like, it needs to have specific, measurable outcomes and increase accountability. Angela Jackson emphasized, “The new agreement must have measurable outcomes and greater accountability … it’s really important everyone understands what’s improving and what’s not.”
