What we do - Introduction

The NMHCCF purpose is to give mental health consumers and carers a united, national voice focused on creating a more responsive service system that will improve their quality of life.

To do this we:
  • Listen to the issues and concerns of our state/territory and stakeholder group representatives.
  • Learn about what is happening in mental health for consumers and carers in each state/territory and internationally.
  • Share experience, knowledge and resources with our members and stakeholders.
  • Identify priority areas for action.
  • Ensure that issues and concerns of consumers and carers are acknowledged and addressed as part of the national policy development process in Australia.
  • Work with our networks to progress the agenda of mental health consumers and carers.
  • Distribute information on this work to our members and their networks nationally.
The activities that we undertake on any given issue may include:
  • Preparing documentation such as position papers, submissions, policy statements, procedural documents, correspondence;
  • Advocacy and representation on bodies such as government committees and advisory groups, professional bodies and other consultative forums;
  • Lobbying of key decision makes including Australian, state and territory governments and professional bodies;
  • Conducting consultations with carers and consumer at all levels – eg surveys;
  • Facilitate networking opportunities, collaborations and partnerships involving consumers and carers and others.
Our future plans include delivering or facilitating sector development activities such as consumer and carer training, peer support activities and research.
 
The Mental Health Standing Committee has set out our terms of reference:
  • Enhance, promote and progress genuine national partnerships and the recognition of mental health consumers and carers at all levels of government and community;
  • provide ways to improve access to and sharing of relevant information between national networks and organisations;
  • strengthen and develop the mental health consumer and carer focus of entities at the national, state and local levels;
  • increase meaningful opportunities for and capacity of mental health consumers and carers to advocate for and participate in legislation, and policy development, implementation and evaluation at all levels;
  • provide an informed strong and unified voice on consumer and carer issues to government, the mental health sector and other stakeholders;
  • identify best practice, protect human rights, highlight deficiencies and influence positive systemic change for the recognition and benefits of consumer and carer participation at all levels;
  • develop and agree to national principles and priorities of action and strategies aligned with the National Mental Health Plan.
We are funded for 2 face-to-face meetings and 2 teleconference meetings per year.


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