On July 2, 2024, Minister Emma McBride, in the presence of key members of Mental Health Carers Australia and the National Consumer Alliance, announced the historic creation of two national ‘peak’ lived experience mental health representative bodies for Australia.

This exciting announcement marks the culmination of a 30-year campaign by mental health consumers and carers for national peak bodies to receive funding and recognition of importance from the Commonwealth government.

Our CEO, Louise Cornish and our Board Member Amaya Alvarez (pictured below) attended this momentous occasion, along with other key representatives including Kerry Hawkins (Deputy Chair of Mental Health Carers Australia) and Priscilla Brice (CEO of BEING – Mental Health Consumers and Chair of the National Consumer Alliance).

This is a significant milestone in Australia’s mental health history and is the result of many years of advocacy and efforts by many organisations, including Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania.  The two new peaks will provide a national representation of the voices of consumers and families and friends, and provide a strong voice for their needs and perspectives.

As an integral part of Mental Health Carers Australia, Mental Health Families and Friends will collaborate closely with our interstate and national partners to create a genuinely representative organisation that prioritises the lived experiences of carers and consumers in driving change, both nationally and in our own home state of Tasmania.

We now look to the Tasmanian government to formally recognise Mental Health Families and Friends as Tasmania’s peak for families and friends to ensure that Tasmania is not left behind.