In early May, Uniting made a submission to the Tasmanian Government’s consultation on the next Mental Health Strategy, drawing on the experience of our Tasmanian services, practitioners and leaders.
Our submission welcomed the Government’s focus on prevention, early support, lived experience, workforce development and a more connected system. It also emphasised that mental health reform must reach beyond clinical services alone. Community services, early learning, schools, family services, AOD programs, housing supports and family violence services all play a critical role in identifying distress early, building trust and supporting people before crisis escalates.
Through our consultation, staff highlighted significant barriers facing Tasmanians seeking support, including GP shortages, the cost of mental health treatment plans, limited bulk-billing options, long waitlists and service models that are difficult for people experiencing disadvantage to navigate. The submission also called for stronger early intervention for children impacted by trauma and family violence, including investment in developmentally appropriate, play-based supports such as Uniting’s proposed Play for Safety pilot for children aged 0–5.
We highlighted Catalyst Hobart as an example of an integrated, community-based program responding to the close relationship between mental health, trauma, substance use and social disadvantage. The submission also drew on the Child Social Exclusion Index, which shows that Tasmania has the highest prevalence of child social exclusion in Australia, reinforcing the need for place-based and early intervention approaches.
Uniting recommended that the next Strategy prioritise easier access, better coordination, voluntary information-sharing, community-based psychosocial supports, early childhood mental health, broader workforce development and sustainable funding for programs working across mental health, AOD, family violence, housing and child wellbeing.
