The Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition unequivocally supports enshrining a Voice to Parliament. A YES vote provides our nation with a new and rare opportunity to move forward towards meaningful change and better mental health and wellbeing for all Australians. By providing a national platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to speak on matters affecting them, changes can be made that are appropriate and relevant to their people and their communities.

NT Mental Health Coalition have written a submission responding to specific questions posed by the Australian Human Rights Commission on Youth Justice and Child Wellbeing Reform across Australia. Evidence from numerous reports and the NT Royal Commission is clear on factors that lead to overincarceration of youth, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the Northern Territory.

Treasurer Eva Lawler, in wrapping up her announcement, said “This budget sees people as our greatest assets,” however this isn’t apparent in the budget. If the government want to grow the NT economy human capital needs to be at the forefront – that is, people working in key service industries such as social services, mental health, disability, childcare and aged care.

The NT Primary Health Network has partnered with the NT Mental Health Coalition in a bid to encourage more students to undertake placements in local mental health and wellbeing organisations.

We speak to Lauren Keys - a leader and advocate of the Lived Experience and Peer Support movements in the NT.

Our CEO Geoff Radford spoke with Katie Woolf on Mix 104.9 radio about Mental Health Week 2022.