Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, 109 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, Greenslopes (2026)

16/04/2026

Catch up with Jun Song and Chris Trupp. from Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, when they visit Central West Queensland (Longreach, Barcaldine and Winton) from Monday 20 April 2026 to Wednesday 22 April 2026. They’re keen to meet with local services to understand priorities and explore practical opportunities.

Connect to discuss:
- Improving access for multicultural communities
- Strengthening the community mental health workforce
- Peer workforce supervision support and other opportunities

To arrange a time to meet, contact:
Jun Song: jsong@qamh.org.au
Chris Trupp: ctrupp@qamh.org.au

15/04/2026

This week, Queensland Alliance for Mental Health proudly shines the spotlight on new Member Wheelnutz Garage and Founder/Director, Jade Burgmann.

Wheelnutz Garage is Australia’s only community service dedicated to racing fans, car enthusiasts, and petrol heads of all kinds. Operating across six automotive and tyre fitting garages in South-East Queensland, they support people to learn new skills, build confidence, increase capacity, and improve job readiness for future employment.

Built on the belief that a workshop can be more than just a place to fix cars, Wheelnutz Garage creates a space where men feel comfortable to talk, connect, and look after their mental health. By meeting blokes in a familiar environment, they’re breaking down stigma and creating real pathways to support, purpose, and belonging.

Learn more about the amazing work Wheelnutz Garage do from their website at https://www.wheelnutzgarage.com/

13/04/2026

Queensland has a critical opportunity to shape the future of mental health reform through the National Mental Health and Su***de Prevention Agreement.

But the foundations aren’t yet strong enough.

Roles between the State and Commonwealth remain unclear, and psychosocial support funding is still fragmented and uncertain.

Without reform, investment will stay inconsistent and community-based mental health services will continue to be under-recognised.

Our members across Queensland are raising urgent concerns:

• Unclear responsibility and long-term sustainability for psychosocial support
• Inconsistent inclusion of NGO community-based services in national frameworks
• Reporting requirements that add burden without improving outcomes or visibility

We’re calling for a clear Queensland position in National Agreement negotiations that secures shared investment, clarifies accountability, establishes a fit-for-purpose national outcomes framework and embeds community-based mental health services at the centre of the system.

National reform must position NGO community-based mental health services as an essential, investable part of Queensland’s mental health system.

This is one of four key priorities shaping QAMH’s advocacy in 2026.

10/04/2026

Psychosocial hazards are a real consideration in community mental health and wellbeing work. Our new, free micro-credential, Workplace Wellbeing Leadership explores what this means in practice, including:

* The difference between unsafe psychosocial work conditions and discomfort that is inherent to the role.
* Organisational responsibilities under Work Health and Safety obligations.
* The role managers and workers each play in identifying and addressing risk.

The Workplace Wellbeing Leadership micro-credential supports clearer conversations and shared accountability across teams so you and your organisation can meet your psychosocial safety requirements.

Hear Mel James CEO at Social Care Solutions and Christina McLaughlin, Chief of Strategy and Governance at Social Care Solutions discuss psychosocial risks. https://www.qamh.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Psychosocial-hazards.mp4

Access our new micro-credential today. Enrol now: https://www.qamh.org.au/courses/workplace-wellbeing-leadership-in-the-community-mental-health-sector/

And as always, a special thank you to Sasha Sullivan, the Learning Designer behind the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health micro-credentials.

08/04/2026

Yesterday’s launch of the Upbeat Arts Choir in Bundaberg struck a powerful note, highlighting the vital role of creativity, connection, and community in mental health support.

Chloe Jesson (Deputy CEO, Queensland Alliance for Mental Health) joined Sandra Eyre (Executive Director of MHAOD Strategy Branch) and Robyn Bradley (Executive Director, MHAOD, Wide Bay HHS) for a panel discussion, facilitated by Jane Rowan (Board Chair, Upbeat Arts; Board Member, Accoras), on the role of arts-based supports in building inclusion, confidence, and wellbeing.

While in Bundaberg, Chloe also had valuable conversations with QAMH members Bridges Health & Community Care and 88 Constellations, both pitch-perfect examples of community-based mental health in action.

In the photo with Chloe Jesson (from L to R): Sandra Eyre (ED of MHAOD Strategy Branch), Jane Rowan (Board Chair of Upbeat Arts, Board Member of Accoras), Robyn Bradley (ED of MHAOD of Wide Bay HHS), Peta Bryant (D/DDG of QLD Health), Amy Della-Torre (Upbeat Arts Bundaberg Program Leader), Susan Gilmartin (Upbeat Arts GM), Bretine Curtis (ED of Queensland Mental Health Commission).

Arts

07/04/2026

Short-term, rigid funding is holding community-based mental health services back.

Across Queensland, services are being forced to operate within funding models that don’t reflect reality resulting in disrupted care, limited responsiveness, and growing pressure on already stretched systems.

Right now, our Members are facing:

* Short-term contracts that undermine workforce stability and long-term planning
* Inflexible funding that restricts how support can be delivered
* Funding gaps that ignore essential costs like travel, supervision, cultural load, and thin markets.

This isn’t sustainable.

We’re calling for a shift to long-term, flexible, place-based funding that:

* Delivers stability
* Reflects the true cost of care
* Empowers communities to design services around local needs

Community-based mental health works. But it needs to be locally informed, culturally responsive, and backed by secure, long-term investment.

This is one of four key priorities driving Queensland Alliance for Mental Health's advocacy in 2026.

Queensland Mental Health Commission Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

02/04/2026

Rural, regional and remote Queenslanders deserve timely access to mental health care but too often, they can’t get it.

Across our Regional, Rural and Remote Roadshow, communities told us the same thing: when GP access is limited, people turn to community-based mental health services as their first point of contact.

These services are stepping in to provide early support and stabilisation. Without them, people are more likely to deteriorate driving avoidable pressure on ambulance services, emergency departments and hospitals.

In our submission to the Senate inquiry into rural, regional and remote Medicare access and funding we’re calling for reform that:

- supports sustainable rural general practice
- strengthens coordination with community-based services
- recognises the role of peer workers and community organisations
- supports Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
- ensures telehealth complements local care.

The system must catch-up an align with community reality.
Read our submission:https://www.qamh.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/QAMH-Submission-The-Govts-changes-to-rural-regional-and-remote-Medicare-access-and-funding.pdf

Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Queensland Mental Health Commission Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

27/03/2026

A strong peer workforce is essential to Queensland’s mental health system, but a key barrier continues to limit its growth.

Securing a suitable placement remains one of the greatest challenges for students completing the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work but without it, many students are unable to finish their qualification.

In response QAMH’s has launched its new Peer Workforce Placement Project, specifically designed to tackle this catch-22 situation.

Over the next 12 months, the project will:

• Fund and coordinate 27 placements across Queensland.
• Support students to complete their studies and transition into the workforce.
• Test and evaluate a new model to better resource organisations delivering placements.

Sector input is critical. As phase one rolls out, we invite you and your workforce to complete a short survey to inform the project.

• Staff who hold a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work: https://forms.monday.com/forms/b369c4ef2fad886d4292b7025f19297b?r=apse2
• Organisations who would like to or already do host Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work Placements: https://forms.monday.com/forms/916b91207a4cadb80cd0a8681d44429e?r=apse2

Your insights will help shape practical solutions to strengthen the pipeline and sustainability of the peer workforce.

Expressions of interest open mid-April.

For further information email Chris Trupp (Senior Advisor – Peer Workforce Development) at ctrupp@qamh.org.au.

Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland Queensland Mental Health Commission Queensland Government

26/03/2026

Queensland’s community-based mental health sector is being asked to do more with less.

Just 4.6% of the state’s mental health budget goes to NGO community-based services, despite growing demand and mounting pressure on hospitals and emergency services.

Across the state, Members are reporting:

- funding that doesn’t keep up with SCHADS Award wage increases.
- short-term contracts that undermine workforce stability.
- high vacancy rates and retention challenges, especially in rural and regional communities.

This is not sustainable. Without reform services reduce, the workforce shrinks, and more people are pushed into avoidable crisis pathways.

Community-based mental health is essential, not optional.

We’re calling for:

- a clear plan to close the funding gap.
- long-term investment in a secure workforce.
- stronger State–Commonwealth responsibility for psychosocial support.

Investing in community mental health means stronger communities and fewer crises.

This is a key priority driving QAMH’s advocacy in 2026.

Queensland Health Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Jobs Australia

20/03/2026

Last year, Queensland Alliance for Mental Health developed a policy brief highlighting the measurable impact of Queensland’s community-based mental health sector, drawing on service evaluations from across our membership. The evidence is clear. Community-based psychosocial supports reduce distress, prevent hospital presentations, strengthen recovery, and deliver strong economic returns.

Yet our sector remains under-recognised in state and national reporting systems. Evaluation is often inconsistent, underfunded, and shaped by reporting requirements that fail to reflect recovery journeys or lived-living experience.

As national reform pushes for better data systems and consistent outcome measures, we’re actively shaping this work to ensure community-based psychosocial supports are visible, recognised, and valued.

Later this year, we will update our brief. If your organisation has evaluation findings, outcomes data, or impact reports to share, reach out to us at aroberts@qamh.org.au.

Community Mental Health Australia Queensland Mental Health Commission Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland
Queensland Health National Mental Health Commission

18/03/2026

Online Thursday 26 March 2026 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Join our Strategic Thinking Workshop for Community Mental Health Leaders and learn how to navigate Australia’s evolving mental health reform landscape.

Work through real reform scenarios, test decisions using practical frameworks, and strengthen your strategic judgement in complex environments. Facilitated by Impact Co., specialists in reform and strategy across health and social sectors.

Bring along one unresolved strategic challenge from your organisation. Check your inbox for the calendar invite or email members@qamh.org.au for details.

Queensland Alliance for Mental Health
Community Mental Health Australia

16/03/2026

The latest NDIS Quarterly Report reveals a concerning shift for people with psychosocial disability, with access to the Scheme declining sharply.

In 2022, 56% of applicants with a primary psychosocial disability were approved for the NDIS. In 2025–26, that figure has dropped to 31%.

Psychosocial disability applicants are now significantly less likely to gain access than other disability groups. While the overall NDIS access rate for applicants aged 25 and over remains around 55%, the rate for psychosocial disability has fallen far below this.
At the same time, fewer access decisions are being made for people with psychosocial disability compared to previous years.

This means more people needing psychosocial support are falling outside the NDIS. Across Queensland, community-based mental health services are already seeing the impact, with more applications rejected and plans not renewed.

As access narrows, properly funding psychosocial supports outside the NDIS can no longer be delayed if we are serious about closing the unmet need gap. Read the full report here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/publications/quarterly-reports

NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Queensland Alliance for Mental Health

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