How can we do better? Supporting children’s mental health in Australia

This is the second episode in our series; you may wish to listen to part one on exploring the future of child mental health in Australia first. In this episode, we continue to look at the strategies and policy shifts that can improve mental health outcomes for Australia’s infants, children and young people and their families.  

Participants discuss the need for better collaboration between professionals and more integrated services, improving mental health literacy among community members, and shifting away from using diagnostic thresholds to determine who can access mental health support. 

You will hear from a range of professionals including Anne Hollonds (National Children’s Commissioner), Dr Billy Garvey (author, podcast host and developmental paediatrician), Prof Andrew Whitehouse (Deputy Director, The Kids Research Institute and Director, CliniKids), Brad Morgan (Emerging Minds Director) and Prof Cath Chamberlain (Professor of Indigenous Health at The University of Melbourne). We are also grateful to the parents and young people with lived experience of family and domestic violence, substance use and mental health difficulties who shared their wisdom with us.

In this episode, you will learn: 

• how proactive professional relationships can benefit both practitioners and families [03:26] 

• what promising models of care are emerging in Australia and overseas [11:08] 

• how improving mental health literacy and upskilling community members could alleviate some of the burden on our mental health care systems [26:05] 

• how we can better leverage community as a protective factor to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families [32:08] 

• how individuals can effectively advocate for change to support infants, children and young people’s mental health [40:48] 

Further information and resources:

What does the future hold for children’s mental health in Australia? (part one) – Emerging Minds podcast 

Towards a comprehensive child mental health system: Exploring workforce availability – Emerging Minds webinar

Towards a comprehensive child mental health system: Gaps and strengths in workforce competency – Emerging Minds webinar 

Towards a comprehensive child mental health system: Opportunities for a coordinated system of support – Emerging Minds webinar

Relighting the Firesticks – Indigenous Health Equity Unit, University of Melbourne 

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

Connected Beginnings program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children – Australian Government Department of Education 

Act for Children Alliance  

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

For more of Dr Billy Garvey’s work see Guiding Growing Minds 

For more of Prof Cath Chamberlain’s work see Prof Cath Chamberlain, The University of Melbourne 

For more of Prof Andrew Whitehouse’s work see The Kids Research Institute Australia 

For more of Commissioner Anne Hollond’s work see Australian Human Rights Commission