What was the Submission About?
This submission shares Deakin University’s feedback on the Productivity Commission’s review of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. It outlines important changes needed to strengthen Australia’s mental health system, such as better prevention, more connected services, stronger involvement of people with lived experience, and improved support for those most at risk. Drawing on expertise from across the Faculty of Health, the submission calls for a more coordinated, fair, and accountable national approach to mental health and suicide prevention.
Key points included
- Improving Australia’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. The submission responds to the national review and offers Deakin University’s advice on how to improve the current Agreement so it better meets people’s needs. It highlights where the system is falling short and what changes are needed to make support easier to access and more effective.
- Focusing on Prevention and Early Support. It calls for more investment in preventing mental health problems before they begin, supporting people early, and helping those at higher risk — rather than waiting until people reach crisis point.
- Fixing Gaps in the System. The submission points out big gaps in access, cost, and service quality, especially for people in regional and rural areas. It recommends better psychosocial supports, trauma‑informed care, and more peer‑led and community‑based services.
- Centre the Voices of People With Lived Experience. It stresses that people with lived and living experience must be involved in designing and improving services. This includes strengthening and properly supporting the peer workforce.
- Creating a Stronger, Fairer System. The submission calls for clearer goals, transparent reporting, long‑term funding, and better coordination across governments and services so the system truly works for everyone.
In Summary
This submission shows Deakin University’s strong support for improving Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system. It explains that the current Agreement isn’t meeting people’s needs and calls for better prevention, earlier support, and more joined‑up services—especially for people in regional, rural, and high‑risk communities. It also stresses the importance of involving people with lived experience in designing and improving services at every stage.
It also calls for governments to work together to address the underlying causes of poor mental health, invest in the mental health and peer workforce, and set clear goals and accountability so progress can be measured. Overall, the submission aims to make sure the next Agreement truly responds to community needs and delivers better mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for all Australians.
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