We’re a non-government, not-for-profit organisation run by a team of passionate people focused on the rights and experiences of support people (mental health and AOD families and friends). We do this by creating programs and surveys to capture your experience. Everything we do at MHFFTas is informed by the lived experience of support people.

We advocate reducing stigma for mental health and AOD families and friends. We advocate for your rights to be understood, heard, and validated. We do this through education, group support programs, and information and referral help.

Take a look below for more details about our recent and ongoing impact.

Advocacy Outcomes 2024-2025

Lived Experience Review

MHFFTas also contributed to the Tasmanian Centre for Mental Health Innovation’s review of the Lived Experience Framework, strongly advocating to maintain
separate peak bodies for families and friends, and for consumers. Through position papers, statements, and consultation, we amplified the family and friend voice. The final Lived Experience Framework Outcome Report will be released in the second half of 2025.

Advocacy Highlights 

  • Secured $20,000 in core funding, recognising the connection between mental health and AOD use
  • Advocated in the Lived Experience Framework Review, protecting separate representation for families and friends, and consumers
  • Formally recognised as the representative body for families and friends in mental health, suicide prevention and AOD in the Lived Experience Review
  • Developed an Organisational Evaluation Framework and commenced the upgrade to our CRM to strengthen data collection, automate the FFRP program, and increase the voice of family and friends

Key Papers

  • Volume 1: Executive Summary: Family and Friend Lived Experience Position Paper Suite
  • Volume 2: Tasmanian Families and Friends – Who are they, where are they, how do we support them: Family and Friend Lived Experience Position Paper Suite
  • Volume 3: Family and Friend Voice and Consumer Voice – Need for Separation: Family and Friend Lived Experience Position Paper Suite
  • Volume 4: Family and Friend Voice and Service Provision – Need for Independence Family and Friend Lived Experience Position Paper Suite
  • Volume 5: Family and Friends’ Rights and Wellbeing Family and Friend Lived Experience Position Paper Suite

Key Policy Submissions

  • Inquiry into the Health Impacts of AOD in Australia
  • Tasmanian Inquiry into ADHD Assessments, Services, and Supports
  • National Autism Strategy
  • National Suicide Prevention Strategy Review
  • National Carers Strategy review

Contributed to Sector Tools & Resources

  • National joint Statement of rights for Australian families, carers & supporters in mental health
  • Family & friend representation in Tasmanian Health Service training modules
  • Sane Forum code sign project
  • Facilitated RAMMS+ session on family and friend inclusion into AOD sector service model development
  • Youth Mental Health Advisory Group
  • Better Access Scheme consultations in Canberra
  • Carers Round Table in Sydney

With a small but dedicated team of just 2.7 full-time equivalent staff, our capacity for in-person engagement is limited. To stay connected with families, friends, and the wider community, we make the most of our digital platforms, Facebook, our website, and our quarterly E-News, which continue to be the key ways we share information and strengthen connection across Tasmania.

Our Impact 2024-2025

  • We connected with families, friends, and communities through fortnightly Call2Connect sessions at the Peacock Centre
  • Provided free mental health first aid training to 13 family and friends in the South
  • We presented to a wide range of groups, including:
    • Mental health nursing students
    • ATDC Conference
    • Mental Health Week
    • Held fortnightly Call2Connect sessions at the Peacock Centre
    • We distributed 20 copies of the Self-Advocacy toolkit to families and friends 

Family and Friend Representation Program 2024-2025

MHFFTas has increased the level of support and training to family and friend representatives and importantly met the significantly increasing demand of representative requests for lived experience participation. We have increased the pool of experienced and suitable representatives to be able to participate in all the reforms on selection panels, working groups, sector presentations and more. 

MHFFTas received 160 requests for family and friend representation in the 2024/25 year with 489 hours of engagement. The below graph shows the significant increase in representative requests over the past seven years, with a significant increase in 2023/2024 due to the extensive reform activities.

MHFFTas increased its ability to meet the demand of family and friend representation requests. In 2024/25 151 of the 160 requests received were filled, meaning 94% of requests were met. The below graph shows the increased ability for MHFFTas to meet representative requests over recent years.

Call2Connect Program

The Call2Connect support service provides individualised referral support and brief interventions for mental health and AOD families and friends. 100 families and friends were referred to the Call2Connect program and supported in the 2024/25 year. 2,820 minutes of support were provided during this time. 78 referrals were provided for mental ill health, 19 for alcohol and other drug use, 1 for suicide prevention and 2 for commission of enquiry.

MHFFTas plays an essential role in providing families with practical resources, emotional support, and strategies to navigate the complex healthcare system, resulting in better health outcomes for both consumers and their families and friends. Families and friends have shared valuable feedback that provides evidence to how our organisation has improved families and friends’ wellbeing.

A recent survey conducted with families and friends who engaged in the Call2Connect service found 85% of respondents found that we provide appropriate referrals, information, and support, and considerable increase in their ability to navigate the system and knowledge of their rights. 85% of respondents felt satisfied with the overall program and 100% felt safe to express themselves.

You know how important education and information is for the capacity-building of support people; for their confidence, resilience, and ability to problem solve. Like us you believe families and friends know that the more information they can get, the better they can support their own recovery, and the recovery of their family member and/or friend.

And we couldn’t agree more, that’s why we regularly run Conversations with Families and Friends.  In these sessions, we have guest speakers with high-level knowledge and experience from public government funded mental health and AOD services.  In 2024-2025, we facilitated the following sessions:

  • How do we support a loved one who doesn’t want to engage in support? – Older Persons Mental Health  Services
  • Reform update  – Older Persons Mental Health Services
  • What is Alcohol and Drug Services –  Alcohol & Drug Services
  • Reform update – Child & Youth Mental Health Services
  • What is the Acute Care Team – ACCESS Mental Health, and Head to Health