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Mental Health Australia hosted an Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop for members of the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives (National Register) and the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF).
Over the years, these two-day workshops have supported the development of representatives’ advocacy, policy development and leadership skills of mental health consumers and carers participating in national policy initiatives. The workshops have also provided important networking opportunities for representatives.
The 2025 Annual Issues and Opportunities Workshop was the final workshop for these two national groups. The Commonwealth Government has funded two peak bodies, one for consumers and one for carers, meaning the funding for the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives (National Register) and the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) ceased as of 30 June 2025.
The final meeting was held in Canberra on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 May 2025 and was attended by 57 mental health consumer and carer representatives, and staff from Mental Health Australia.
The theme chosen for this final Annual Workshop was Celebrating our Past and Building Our Future. The program encompassed different speakers, thought-provoking sessions on moving forward without the formal structure of the groups, and opportunities for participants to celebrate their achievements.
This report provides highlights from the two-day event and a summary of the key themes from the workshop and through the workshop evaluation survey.