Status: Delivered
What the Royal Commission said
The Royal Commission recommends that the Victorian Government work with the Commonwealth Government and the National Cabinet Reform Committee to:
- delineate the responsibilities of governments in providing a structured, coordinated, long-term approach to planning, investment and reform through the new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement;
- raise the profile of:
- mental health and wellbeing, and suicide prevention and response services;
- associated supports such as housing and homelessness services; and
- lived experience leadership.
- ensure a strong focus on the implementation of mental health and wellbeing strategies.
What we've achieved
A new National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement
- The National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (NMHSPA), along with Victoria’s related agreement with the Commonwealth Government, was put in place in 2021–22.
- There is in principle agreement to extend both the national agreement and Victoria’s bilateral agreement for a further 12 months, until June 2027. This extension will allow time for governments to negotiate a new five year national agreement, guided by the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s 2025 review of the NMHSPA.
What we're doing
- The NMHSPA outlines the Commonwealth and state and territory governments agreement to work together to support and implement a whole-of-government approach to mental health and suicide prevention for all Australians. The NMHSPA sets out the shared commitment of the Commonwealth and Victorian governments to work in partnership to improve and enhance Victoria’s mental health and suicide prevention system.
- A new five-year National Agreement is being negotiated, guided by the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s 2025 review.
- Victoria’s Bilateral Schedule was created to support the delivery of key mental health and wellbeing reforms in the state. It also commits both governments to ensuring that decisions and actions under the agreement are informed by the lived experiences of people who use mental health services, as well as their carers and families. It supports delivery of several key mental health and wellbeing reform priorities and includes a commitment for implementation of the NMHSPA to be informed by the lived experience of consumers and carers.
Updated