Neami has delivered its third Federal Pre-Budget Submission to the Australian Government, outlining priority reforms needed to address persistent gaps in Australia’s mental health system and improve outcomes for people living with mental health challenges.
The submission focuses on the growing scale and impact of unmet psychosocial need outside the NDIS, and the consequences this has for individuals, families, the mental health workforce and other government systems, including hospitals, housing and justice.
Neami’s key asks
Neami’s submission calls for targeted, system-level investment and reform across five priority areas:
- Fully addressing unmet psychosocial need outside the NDIS, ensuring people can access timely, community-based support regardless of eligibility.
- Building a sustainable psychosocial support workforce, with funding and settings that support workforce stability, capability and retention.
- Reforming funding and commissioning arrangements for community mental health, including longer-term, less fragmented funding that enables service continuity and system planning.
- Expanding community-based alternatives to hospital-based crisis care, reducing avoidable emergency department presentations and inpatient admissions.
- Strengthening housing and physical health responses for people with mental health challenges, recognising the critical role of social determinants in recovery and wellbeing.
Aligning with national sector advocacy
Neami’s submission aligns with the Mental Health Australia 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission, which calls for strong national leadership and coordinated action by governments to address rising mental health need.
Mental Health Australia’s submission highlights the importance of shared priorities across jurisdictions, particularly in relation to unmet psychosocial need, workforce sustainability and strengthening community-based care as governments prepare for the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
Together, these submissions reinforce a consistent sector message: without coordinated reform and sustained investment in community mental health and psychosocial supports, pressure will continue to fall on hospitals and crisis services, and people will miss out on the support they need to live well in the community.
Neami will continue to engage with governments, peak bodies and partners as the Federal Budget process progresses and discussions on the next National Agreement take shape.
If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Policy and Advocacy Team at policy@neaminational.org.au.