Every Life Phase Three update, Mental Health & Wellbeing Grants, Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Grants update, Independent evaluation of Achieving balance ITO and many more.
Hello everyone, it's great to have the chance to share some of what we've been up to in this edition of eNews with you. I will be Acting Commissioner for August while Ivan is taking some well-deserved time off. It’s an honour to step into this role during this time.
Out and about with the Commission
Over the past few weeks, I’ve joined Roses in the Ocean and our Suicide Prevention Reform team in Hervey Bay and Roma for lived experience and sector community consultations to help shape the next phase of Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019–2029. A special thank you to Roses in the Ocean for facilitating the lived experience sessions, and to everyone who attended for sharing your insights so generously.
Your perspectives are essential to system reform, and we remain committed to embedding lived-living experience at every level of our work. The feedback gathered will form a strong foundation for the next stage of the plan.
While in town, I also caught up with local Hospital and Health Service mental health teams. In Wide Bay, Executive Director Mental Health and Specialised Services Robyn Bradley and Clinical Coordinator Katie kindly showed me through their almost-new inpatient unit - an impressive facility designed with innovative concepts from environmental controls for service users to the integration of new technology.
In Roma, Service Director Aurora Bermudez and her team shared the great work being done in the West, as well as the unique challenges of delivering services in rural and remote Queensland.
Before heading on leave, Ivan represented the Commission at a range of events, from the Australian Psychosis Conference to the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health’s Connecting for Impact forum. He also joined the Homelessness Ministerial Advisory Council.
Across the Commission, our team has been connecting with communities - celebrating NAIDOC Week, attending the Social Enterprise Job Summit, joining QShelter’s Call to Action on preventing child and youth homelessness, and taking part in a Public Advocate roundtable on urgent mental health care.
Grants announcements
We were also thrilled last month to announce the recipients of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants and Better Futures Grants which will see almost $4.9 million invested to support innovation in mental health and wellbeing across Queensland. You can read a bit more about both initiatives below.
National Report Card 2024
In case you missed it, the National Mental Health Commission released their National Report Card a few weeks ago. This report looks at the performance of Australia's mental health system. There's lot of great insights in this year's report including around social determinants, access to services and the prevalence of mental health disorders. Reports like this are critical for mapping progress and areas from improvement and I encourage you take a look on their website.
Media coverage around mental health and suicide
And finally, I just wanted to note that there has been a lot of coverage around mental health, suicide, and young people recently. It is important that we talk about these issues in a safe and non-stigmatising way, as unsafe reporting can lead to further harm. Mindframehas prepared many guides for media outlets - all to support safe media reporting and communication around suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drugs use. They have also recently launched LGBTQIA+and children and youth focused guides. SANE’s StigmaWatch program allows
people to report any media coverage that they feel stigmatises mental ill health or talks about suicide in an unsafe way. It's easier than ever to stay up to date on news but, it's also important to consider how it might impact your mental health and you can find some tips on how to balance that here.
Better Futures Grants awarded: $2M to advance mental health system reform
Eight organisations have been awarded up to $250,000 each through the Better Futures Grants program to support innovative digital mental health projects. With over 130 high-quality applications, additional funding was released to support more initiatives aligned with the Shifting minds: The Queensland Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2023–2028 and related sub-plans. Funded projects focus on areas such as, digital innovation (e.g. VR, apps, chat-based tools). evidence-based approaches and outcome tracking and support for priority groups, including youth, perinatal women, and CALD communities. The Commission congratulates the recipients and thanks all applicants for their contributions. View the full list of recipients here.
$2.9 million in grants to support community mental health and wellbeing
We're also pleased to announce that $2.9 million in Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants have been finalised! Funded initiatives include peer-led mental health support for young women from diverse backgrounds (Ethni, SEQ), rural mums and bubs wellbeing programs (Murilla Community Centre, Darling Downs) and the AFLW Northern Nest Resilience and Inclusion Program for children, young people, First Nations communities and young women in Far North Queensland. See the full list of recipients on our website.
Independent evaluation of Achieving balance now open
The Commission has released an open Invitation to Offer to engage a qualified evaluation provider for an independent, system-level evaluation of Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan 2022–2027. The evaluation will assess implementation progress, measure outcomes against the Plan’s five strategic priorities, and provide evidence-informed insights to support future policy, system improvement and whole-of-government accountability. It will be trauma-informed, inclusive, and delivered in partnership with people with lived - living experience. Suppliers can register for the briefing session held on 19 August at 10.00am.
Strong interest in Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Grants
The Commission received 29 quality applications for the Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Grants, making it a highly competitive process. Queensland-based non-government organisations were invited to apply for funding of $500,000 or more to deliver targeted projects or programs designed and led by people with lived-living experience of mental ill-health, suicide, and alcohol and other drugs use.
Applications were sought for proposed initiatives including developing workforce standards, strengthening training and evaluation, creating roles in regional areas, expanding positions in First Nations communities, and removing participation barriers through measures like scholarships. A total of $2.5 million will be allocated, with outcomes now finalised. We’ll soon announce the successful initiatives helping build a more inclusive and responsive system.
Lived-living experience at the heart of Every Life Phase 3
The Commission in partnership with Roses in the Ocean has been consulting across Queensland to informEvery lifePhase Three, hearing directly from people with lived and living experience of suicide including families, carers and loved ones. Thank you to everyone who shared their time and insights in Brisbane, Hervey Bay, Roma and Townsville, and toRoses in the Ocean for facilitating these important conversations. Targeted engagement will continue to ensure diverse voices help shapeQueensland’s next suicide prevention priorities.
New Child Safe Organisations Act ⚖️
From 1 October 2025, new laws will require over 40,000 Queensland organisations to meet Child Safe Standards and support cultural safety for First Nations children. The Queensland Family and Child Commission has released practical tools to help organisations prepare.
International Youth Day (IYD) 🙌
This year’s theme, Local Youth Actions for Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond, recognises the leadership of young people in shaping stronger, more sustainable communities. Some useful resources and publications here.
Multicultural Queensland Month is here! 🫶
August marks Multicultural Queensland Month. A celebration of our state’s rich cultural diversity and a chance to promote inclusion, connection and shared stories. Get involved and learn more about the rich cultural diversity in Queensland.
Sponsorship
We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. The current round closes on 30August 2025.
