Oh how far we’ve come
In 1986, two passionate Melburnians, John Cohen and Margaret Tomkins, saw a critical need. People leaving hospitals with mental health challenges often had nowhere to live and lacked vital support. That’s why they founded Neami.
As we approach our 40th year, we can reflect on the huge changes we’ve seen in the sector. Research has helped us improve the way we support people. People’s attitudes have changed about mental health and governments have changed their policies.
With each of these changes, Neami has grown, improved and expanded. From working with people who were leaving institutional care in Melbourne’s inner north, to now providing more than 70 programs and services across Australia. These include mental health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness, and suicide prevention.
Neami’s growth has given us a bold and respected national voice. We use this voice to fight for changes in policy and funding. These changes are based on the real experiences of people facing mental health challenges, and they give everyone more control over their own care.
We will keep working hard, changing and improving, to help people have a better quality of life.
Neami’s story
1980’s
1990’s
2000’s
2010’s
2020’s
Explore Neami
Founded in 1986, we’ve grown to a 1,200+ strong team supporting 34,000 people each year and offer services across 40 different Indigenous lands.
We work with people to help improve their quality of life, on their terms.
