What does the future hold for children’s mental health in Australia?

In 2022, we celebrated the 100th episode of the Emerging Minds podcast by reflecting on the discussions, stories and insights that had been shared over the first four years of the show. Now, three years later, we’re celebrating our 200th episode by looking forward rather than back with a focus on the future of infant and child mental health in Australia. What do practitioners, service leaders, politicians and policy makers need to do to improve outcomes for children and families? What does an ideal future even look like?  

In this two-part series, you’ll hear from a range of professionals including Anne Hollonds (National Children’s Commissioner), Dr Billy Garvey (author, podcast host and developmental paediatrician), Phil Robinson (Emerging Minds Chair), Brad Morgan (Emerging Minds Director) and Prof Catherine Chamberlain (Professor of Indigenous Health at The University of Melbourne). You’ll also hear from parents and young people with lived experience of family and domestic violence, substance use and mental health difficulties.  

While some of what is shared may echo your own thoughts and experiences, we hope these conversations also offer new ideas and galvanise you in the fight for better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for young Australians.  

Key learnings  

In this episode, you will learn: 

• about current key priorities for supporting children’s mental health in Australia [02:59]

• how lack of access to material basics (food, housing, schooling, etc.) is a key driver behind youth crime [11:29]

• why trauma-informed pregnancy care is essential for reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the youth justice and out-of-home-care systems [17:14]

• how misconceptions about mental health are getting in the way of improving outcomes for children and families [22:26]

• what parents and young people wish professionals better understood about children’s mental health [28:24]

Further information and resources:

Reflecting on 100 episodes – Emerging Minds podcast episode  

Children’s mental health and social determinants of health mini toolkit – Emerging Minds and FrameWorks Institute 

‘Help way earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing – Australian Human Rights Commission 

Birthing in Our Community (BiOC) – Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Indigenous Health Equity Unit – The University of Melbourne

Guiding Growing Minds