Mental Health Safety and Quality Engagement Guide
Mental Health Safety and Quality Engagement Guide

Appendix 3 Organisations and key contacts

Organisations and key contacts

 

National consumer and carer organisations

National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF)
(02) 6285 3100
NMHCCF@mhaustralia.org
nmhccf.org.au
The NMHCCF is a combined national voice for mental health consumers and carers. NMHCCF members represent mental health consumers and carers on a range of national bodies, including government committees and advisory groups, professional bodies, and other consultative forums and events.
National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives
(02) 6285 3100
natreg@mhaustralia.org
mhaustralia.org/report/national-register-mental-health-consumers-and-carers
The National Register is a pool of trained mental health consumer and carer representatives from across Australia. They work at the national level to provide a strong consumer and carer voice in the mental health sector.
Lived Experience Australia
1300 620 042
www.livedexperienceaustralia.com.au
Formerly known as the Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network.
Mental Health Carers Australia
contact.us@mentalhealthcarersaustralia.org.au
www.mentalhealthcarersaustralia.org.au
Mental Health Carers Australia is a national advocacy group focusing on the wellbeing of mental health carers, and promoting their needs.

 

State and territory consumer and carer organisation

ACTACT Mental Health Consumer Network
(02) 6230 5796
actmhcn@actmhcn.org.au
www.actmhcn.org.au
The ACT Mental Health Consumer Network is a consumer-led peak organisation representing the interests of mental health consumers in the Australian Capital Territory in policy and decision-making forums.
 Carers ACT
(02) 6296 9900
carers@carersact.org.au
www.carersact.org.au
Carers ACT is the peak body for carers in the Australian Capital Territory. It supports those who assist someone who has a disability, is ageing or has an ongoing mental or other illness.
NSWBeing
1300 234 640
info@being.org.au
being.org.au
Being is an independent, state-wide peak organisation for people with a lived/living experience of mental health issues (consumers) in New South Wales.
 Mental Health Carers NSW
(02) 9332 0777
MHCNadmin@mentalhealthcarersnsw.org
www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org
Mental Health Carers NSW provides systemic advocacy and support for families, relatives and friends of people who experience mental illness, living in New South Wales.
NTHelping Minds and Carers NT
(08) 9427 7100
helpingminds.org.au
QldARAFMI
(07) 3254 1881
www.arafmi.com.au
ARAFMI provides support services for families and friends of people with mental illness and psychiatric disability in Queensland.
SALived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN)
info@lelan.org.au
www.lelan.org.au
LELAN is an independent organisation that is run by, for and with people with personal lived experience of mental health issues (i.e. consumers) in South Australia. Its purpose is to amplify the voice, influence and leadership of people with lived experience to drive systemic change.
TasFlourish Tasmania
(03) 6223 1952
admin@flourishtas.org.au
flourishtas.org.au
Flourish aims to provide a strong voice for people with lived experience of mental ill-health in Tasmania. Its purpose is to offer input and expertise on lived experience to mental health policy and services, and to reduce discrimination and stigma surrounding mental health.
 Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania (MHFFTas)
(03) 6228 7448
mhfamiliesfriendstas.org.au
MHFFTas (formerly Mental Health Carers Tasmania) provides support to families, friends and carers of people living with mental health issues and mental illness in Tasmania.
VicTandem
(03) 8803 5555
info@tandemcarers.org.au
www.tandemcarers.org.au
Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing family and friends who support people living with mental health issues.
 Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC)
(03) 9380 3900
reception@vmiac.org.au
www.vmiac.org.au
VMIAC is the peak Victorian organisation for people with lived experience of mental ill-health or emotional challenges.
WAConsumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA)
(08) 9258 8911
admin@comhwa.org.au
www.comhwa.org.au
CoMHWA is Western Australia’s mental health consumer association, providing education and training, peer support and systemic advocacy.

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health organisations

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Network
indigenouslec@blackdog.org.au
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-network This newly established network within the Black Dog Institute is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It aims to develop and support a ‘workforce’ of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates to inform, influence and enhance culturally appropriate suicide prevention activities and mental health support programs for First Nations peoples.
Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia
www.gayaadhuwi.org.au
Gayaa Dhuwi is the national leadership group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
(02) 6246 9300
www.naccho.org.au
NACCHO is the national peak body representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across Australia on Aboriginal health and wellbeing issues.
 

Mental Health Peak Bodies

NationalCommunity Mental Health Australia (CMHA)
(02) 9060 9629
cmha.org.au
CMHA is a coalition of community mental health organisations from each state and territory of Australia. It was established to provide leadership and direction to promote the importance and benefits of community mental health and recovery services across Australia.
Mental Health Australia
(02) 6285 3100
mhaustralia.org
Mental Health Australia is a peak national non-government organisation representing and promoting the interests of the Australian mental health sector.
ACTMental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT)
(02) 6249 7756
admin@mhccact.org.au
www.mhccact.org.au
MHCC ACT is the peak body representing the community-managed mental health sector in the ACT.
NSWMental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC)
(02) 9060 9627
info@mhcc.org.au
www.mhcc.org.au
MHCC is the peak body for community-managed mental health organisations in New South Wales.
NTNorthern Territory Mental Health Coalition (NTMHC)
(08) 8948 2246
eo@ntmhc.org.au
www.ntmhc.org.au
The NTMHC is the peak body for community-managed mental health services across the Northern Territory.
QldQueensland Alliance for Mental Health
(07) 3252 9411
www.qamh.org.au
Queensland Alliance for Mental Health is the peak body for mental health service providers and the wider mental health community in Queensland.
SAMental Health Coalition of South Australia
(08) 8212 8873
administration@mhcsa.org.au
www.mhcsa.org.au
The Mental Health Coalition of South Australia is the peak body for the non-government mental health sector in South Australia.
TasMental Health Council of Tasmania
(03) 6224 9222
enquiries@mhct.org
mhct.org
The Mental Health Council of Tasmania is the peak body for community-managed mental health services in Tasmania.
VicMental Health Victoria
(03) 9519 7000
mhvic@mhvic.org.au
www.mhvic.org.au
Mental Health Victoria is the peak body for mental health service providers in Victoria.
WAWestern Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH)
(08) 6246 3000
waamh.org.au
WAAMH is the peak body for community mental health in Western Australia.

 

Chief Psychiatrists

Chief psychiatrists are appointed by state and territory health departments to provide advice and leadership on mental health needs in their jurisdiction. Chief psychiatrists also respond to complaints about psychiatric practice and treatment provided by public mental health services.

Contact details for the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist in each state and territory are listed below.

ACT(02) 6205 1313
NSWc/o Mental Health Branch
(02) 9391 9000
NTc/o Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch
(08) 8999 2829
Qldc/o Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch
MHAODB-ED@health.qld.gov.au
SA(08) 8226 1091
healthocp@sa.gov.au
Tas(03) 6166 0778
chief.psychiatrist@health.tas.gov.au
Vic(03) 9096 7571
ocp@dhhs.vic.gov.au
WA(08) 6553 0000
reception@ocp.wa.gov.au

 

Mental Health Commissions

Mental health commissions are independent government agencies that monitor, and provide advice on, mental health policy and services in their jurisdiction.

NationalNational Mental Health Commission
(02) 8229 7550
enquiries@mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
NSWMental Health Commission of New South Wales
(02) 9859 5200
mhc@mhc.nsw.gov.au
nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au
QldQueensland Mental Health Commission
1300 855 945
info@qmhc.qld.gov.au
www.qmhc.qld.gov.au
SASouth Australian Mental Health Commission, Wellbeing SA
1300 293 220
samhc@sa.gov.au
www.samentalhealthcommission.com.au
WAWestern Australian Mental Health Commission
(08) 6553 0600
www.mhc.wa.gov.au

 

Handling Bodies for Oversight and Complaints

Official visitors and community visitors are independent observers who monitor treatment and conditions in mental health facilities. Their role is to protect the rights and dignity of people in these facilities, particularly those receiving compulsory treatment.

Healthcare complaints commissions are independent government agencies that deal with complaints about health service providers.

JurisdictionVisitorsComplaints
ACTACT Official Visitor Scheme
1800 150 036
Help with complaints: Official Visitors		ACT Human Rights Commission
(02) 6205 2222
human.rights@act.gov.au
hrc.act.gov.au
NSWOfficial Community Visitors
(02) 9407 1831
OCV@adc.nsw.gov.au		Health Care Complaints Commission
1800 043 159
www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
NTNT Community Visitor Program
(08) 8999 1451
cvpprogramadc@nt.gov.au
cvp.nt.gov.au		Health and Community Services Complaints Commission
(08) 8999 1969
hcscc@nt.gov.au
www.hcscc.nt.gov.au
QldCommunity Visitors
c/o Office of the Public Guardian
1800 661 533		Office of the Health Ombudsman
133 646
info@oho.qld.gov.au
www.oho.qld.gov.au
SASA Community Visitor Scheme
1800 606 302
cvs@sa.gov.au
communityvisitorscheme.sa.gov.au		Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner
(08) 8226 8652
info@hcscc.sa.gov.au
www.hcscc.sa.gov.au
TasMental Health Official Visitors
1800 001 170
officialvisitors@ombudsman.tas.gov.au
www.officialvisitors.tas.gov.au		Health Complaints Commissioner
1800 001 170
health.complaints@ombudsman.tas.gov.au
www.healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au
VicCommunity Visitors
c/o Office of the Public Advocate
1300 309 337		Mental Health Complaints Commissioner
1800 246 054
help@mhcc.vic.gov.au
www.mhcc.vic.gov.au
WAMental Health Advocacy Service
(08) 6234 6300
contactus@mhas.wa.gov.au
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/mental-health-advocacy-service		Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)
(08) 6551 7600
mail@hadsco.wa.gov.au
 
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Acknowledgement of Country

The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia.
We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

Diversity

The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lived Experience

We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.