The National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (NMHCA) is the national mental health peak body for mental health consumers. We are led by, and represent, the voices of people with lived experience of mental health challenges.
The NMHCA recognises the additional difficulties that come with living in regional, inner regional, remote and very remote Australia (defined in this advertisement as Regional and Remote). To ensure your voice is amplified in the work that we do, we are recruiting for the NMHCA’s Regional and Remote Mental Health Expert Panel (the Panel).
The Panel will provide high level advice directly to the NMHCA National Policy Council identifying concerns for mental health consumers living in regional and remote Australia. This will include providing a regional and remote perspective on national mental health policies and providing input into NMHCA policy development.
Expected to start in June 2025, the Panel will meet for up to three hours every third month online, four times a year. You will be expected to attend at least 80 per cent of these meetings. You will be paid for your participation at the rate set by the NMHCA, currently $92.80 per hour, maximum of $464 per day. The role will end as of 31 December 2026.
To join the Panel, you will need to:
- have lived experience of mental health challenges, defined by the NMHCA as “experience of mental health challenges that have caused life as we knew it to change so significantly we must reimagine and redefine ourselves, our place in the world, and our plans”.
- live in regional/remote Australia (ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA) as defined by the Australia Bureau of Statistics (Remoteness Areas | Australian Bureau of Statistics) ACT/WA/SA/Qld/NSW/Vic/Tas (STPs choose yours)
- currently use mental health services and supports funded or partially funded by the Australia Government. This may include receiving services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, at a Medicare Mental Health Centre, or receiving a Medicare Benefits Schedule rebate when using a general practitioner (including a mental health plan), using a psychiatrist, prescribed medical practitioner, psychologist, social worker and/or occupational therapist under the Better Access Initiative.
- want to advise the NMHCA on national mental health policies and how they impact mental health consumers in regional and remote areas of Australia
- have suggestions to improve the availability and use of mental health services in regional and remote areas of Australia
- have experience sharing your mental health lived experience with peers in a safe way to contribute to the development of systemic policy advice
To participate on this Panel you cannot be a member of the Board or of the national Consumer Advisory Group of your State/Territory Mental Health Consumer Peak body.
If you meet these criteria and are interested in nominating for the Panel, please submit an application advising of where you live and your previous experience in using your lived experience to contribute to systemic policy advice by 30 April 2025 to policy@nmhca.org.au.