Gabriel Ng (Menzies, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on Mental Health Month, which, of course, occurred in October. Like most people in this House, I have family and friends who have been impacted by mental health issues. I understand the day-to-day impacts of mental health—how it can sap the joy from everyday activities, like spending time with family and friends, and how severe mental illness can be just as life threatening as a physical illness. Mental health is rarely the first issue that people raise when I speak to them, when I'm out doorknocking, at a street stall or visiting schools. But it is an issue that comes out regularly over the course of a conversation or when I tell people about our investments in mental health, particularly when it comes to young people or adolescents.

Maybe the reason it is not at the forefront of people's minds or they are reluctant to raise it is stigma. We've come a long way in a short time in reducing stigma. When some of my mates—women and men—were younger, they might have been reluctant to talk about seeing a counsellor or psychologist or needing medication. They are now much more likely to talk about their troubles openly. But across Australia too many people still face stigma when they speak about their mental health. Too many believe that seeking help is a weakness rather than a strength. Too many young people hide their struggles, fearful that others will not understand. If we are to build a more compassionate and resilient country, we must challenge that culture of silence and replace it with one of openness and support, where mental health is treated the same as physical health.

Over recent years, the demand for services has grown sharply. The causes are complex. The pandemic, social isolation, housing stress and financial pressures have all left a mark. Young people face new pressures from social media, climate anxiety and disrupted education. Parents and carers are watching their children struggle too, often unable to find the right support. For too long, services were underfunded, fragmented and difficult to access. The system has not kept up with the level of need.

The Albanese Labor government is changing that. As part of our plan to strengthen Medicare, we've made a $1.1 billion commitment to deliver new and expanded mental health services across the country. This is the most significant investment in community based mental health care in a generation. It recognises that prevention and early intervention are just as vital as treatment. This investment will support Australians across every stage of life.

We are establishing 91 Medicare mental health centres across the nation, including one in Box Hill, in my electorate. These centres will be free, will be open for walk-ins and will not require a referral or a mental health treatment plan. They will be staffed by multidisciplinary teams of psychologists, social workers, nurses and peer support workers who can provide immediate, practical and compassionate care.

We are creating 20 perinatal mental health centres to support new and expectant parents during what can be a very vulnerable period. For many Australians, parenthood can bring loneliness and anxiety as well as joy. These centres will be providing counselling and support close to home, helping parents care for both their children and themselves.

We're also rolling out 17 Medicare mental health kids hubs to help children and families with behavioural, emotional and social wellbeing challenges. Early support in childhood can prevent more serious mental health issues later in life, and these hubs will provide that early family centred care. At the same time, we are expanding 203 headspace services across the country to support young people aged 12 to 25.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:43 to 12:53

I recently visited headspace in Box Hill alongside Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride. There I met the dedicated staff who are providing essential support and tirelessly reaching out into the community, including our multicultural communities, to increase awareness of their services. I also met their youth consultative committee, committed young advocates who are taking time out between exams to ensure the voices of young people are heard in designing services. Headspace has long been one of the most trusted youth mental health services, and this expansion means more young Australians will be able to access support in their own communities, rather than waiting months or travelling long distances.

From early next year the government will introduce a national early intervention service. It will provide free phone based and online mental health support delivered by trained professionals. It is expected to assist more than 150,000 people every year. It will give Australians a way to seek help wherever they are, day or night. Together these initiatives will help reduce pressure on the private psychology service system and ensure that cost and location no longer determine who gets help. We are also building the workforce that will deliver this care. We know there is a shortage of mental health workers. It can often take too long to get an appointment once people take the brave step to reach out for help. We know there are not enough services to help people with acute mental health issues and not enough beds that people can go to, and we know that there is a missing middle in terms of the support that's available for people with serious mental health issues.

The government is funding more than 4,000 psychology scholarships, internships and training places to attract and retain qualified professionals across the country. We also recognise that clinical expertise is not the only form of knowledge that matters. Lived experience plays a vital role in recovery. At Box Hill headspace I met a peer support worker who was drawing on her own difficult experience and professional training to provide support to others. Sometimes it is only someone who has been through the same experience who can understand and who you can feel comfortable leaning on. That is why we are professionalising the peer workforce, establishing a new national peer workforce association and conducting the first ever census of peer workers next year. These changes are practical and far-reaching. They mean Australians will no longer have to wait for a crisis before accessing care. They will be able to find help sooner in their own communities from people who understand.

The government is also improving navigation. The Medicare mental health phone line, which is 1800595212, and website will help Australians find the best service suited to their needs—whether that is walk-in care, a telehealth appointment or a local peer support worker. Accessibility and early support saves lives. For someone in crisis the difference between being seen immediately and waiting weeks can be the difference between despair and recovery. For families these reforms mean hope and relief—knowing that help is nearby, free and available without stigma. This is what leadership looks like. It is about meeting Australians where they are and ensuring that no-one is left behind.

Through new perinatal centres, kids hubs, expanded headspace sites and community based Medicare mental health centres, the Albanese government is creating a comprehensive national network of care that supports Australians from early childhood through to later life. We know there is still work to do. I want a society and a system where mental health is treated with the same priority as physical health. But this investment—backed by record funding, a growing workforce and a renewed focus on lived experience—is a decisive step forward. Mental health is not a marginal issue; it is a national priority. We are tackling stigma, we are improving access and we are investing in the workforce, and, most importantly, we are giving Australians the confidence to seek help and the support they deserve when they do. This is the leadership in mental health our country has long needed.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:58 to 17:00

The House of Representatives having adjourned—

Federation Chamber adjourned at 17:00