On Friday 2 May 2025, Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania (MHFFTas), in partnership with Primary Health Tasmania (PHT), held a consultation session with our lived experience representatives to inform the development of the new Mental Health Continuum of Care commissioning model.

This session brought together our team and our lived experience representatives with firsthand experience supporting someone with mental ill health or alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. Their insights will help shape a more coordinated and responsive mental health system in Tasmania that is designed with the needs of both consumers and their families and friends in mind and the unique needs of the Tasmanian community.

Together, participants shared ideas about how services could be better connected, more accessible, and person and family centred.

There was strong emphasis on:

• The importance of early intervention and consistent follow-up
• Connection of providers and with families and friends throughout the consumer journey
• The importance of continuity of care and follow-up and support following an emergency hospital stay
• Addressing gaps in peer support services for families and friends who are supporting loved one, and the need to have peer workers working across the continuum and engaged with all services.
• Alternative and flexible models of care (telehealth and outreach) for hard-to-reach populations, including rural and those most vulnerable
• The need to recognise and support family and friend carers as key partners in the care and support journey.