Source:
National Register of Mental Health Consumer & Carer Representatives
Please note: The National Register program ceased on 30 June 2025.
The National Register was established in 2007 and was a project at Mental Health Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health until 30 June 2025.
The National Register was a pool of trained mental health consumer and carer representatives from across Australia, who worked at the national level to provide a strong consumer and carer voice in the mental health sector.
Members of the National Register used their lived experience, knowledge of the mental health system and communication skills to advocate and promote the issues and concerns of mental health consumers and carers.
If you are seeking lived experience representatives, please contact the lived experience peak bodies: the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance and Mental Health Carers Australia.
National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum
Please note: funding for the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) ceased on 30 June 2025.
For 23 years, the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) was the combined national voice for mental health consumers and carers participating in the development of Australian mental health sector and its services.
The NMHCCF functioned under the auspices of Mental Health Australia.
The NMHCCF gave mental health consumers and carers the opportunity to meet, form partnerships and be involved in the development and implementation of mental health policy reform.
While the NMHCC has now ceased operations, you can visit the NMHCCF website to access a range of position statements, advocacy briefs, and resources.
Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop
Mental Health Australia hosted an Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop for members of the National Register and the now concluded National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (NMHCCF). While the NMHCCF has now ceased operations, you can visit the NMHCCF website to access a range of position statements, advocacy briefs, and resources.
These two-day workshops aimed to further develop the representative skills of mental health consumers and carers already participating in national policy initiatives. In particular, the workshops were designed to develop representatives’ advocacy, policy development and leadership skills. They also provided an opportunity to discuss national issues important to mental health consumers and carers, as well as network and share representative experiences.
Information about previous Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshops, including the annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop reports are available here.