What experts are focusing on ahead of the 2024–’25 Federal Budget

Key points

• A recent study from the University of NSW found that greater support for people attending mental health services could enable clinicians to identify early warning signs of severe mental health issues more easily
• Mental Health Australia submitted its pre-budget recommendations to highlight the need for a mental health reform that can better support the health of affected Australians
• Free mental health support is available through helplines including Lifeline and Beyond Blue

Researchers of a recent study University of NSW found that three out of four people who committed serious violent offences in NSW and were found not guilty due to mental illness had visited at least one mental health service before the attack.

In an interview on ABC Radio, one of the study’s authors, Professor Kimberlie Dean, considered the implications of the research and mental health services. However, she refrained from discussing the circumstances related to the recent Bondi Junction event, where six people were killed by a 40-year-old who had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to Australian media outlets. 

“I think this case does highlight that there is a group of people in our community with severe and complex mental health problems who I think most clinicians working in the area would say are not sufficiently well served by our current services in Australia. I think services, especially public mental health services, state-based public mental health services, are really stretched,” Professor Dean said.

Researchers of the study highlighted that ‘most people with severe mental illness will never be violent,’ but other studies have identified links between illnesses such as schizophrenia and an increased risk of violence. 

Professor Dean also stated that aspects of mental health consultation and treatment may need improvement to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

“For those seen by mental health services prior to violence but not identified as having psychosis, there may have been emerging or underlying psychosis that was missed or attributed to other conditions or that the diagnosis was not yet clear,” said Professor Dean. 

Over 20 percent of Australian adults have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Such statistics suggest that even if you don’t have a mental health concern, chances are you know someone who does. 

However, Professor Dean acknowledged that such instances of mental health concerns may not have been at measurable levels for the person to receive proper mental health diagnosis and treatment.

“This is not to say that the psychosis may have emerged or deteriorated in the period between contact with the health services and the time of the offence.

“[…] If we were able to recognise the early warning signs of severe psychotic mental illness and intervene earlier, we may be able to improve outcomes for people with emerging psychosis and possibly prevent some acts of serious violence,” she said.

Mental health organisations such as Mental Health Australia submitted pre-budget recommendations for consideration in this year’s Federal Budget which will be available online on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 7:30pm (AEST).

Some of Mental Health Australia’s recommendations include:

• ensuring $953,830 dollars for 2024 – 2025 to ‘continue to support lived experience leadership and representation;’
• funding the ‘development of an online, national accredited cultural safety training package for the Australian mental health workforce;’
• reassessing income support payments to ensure that recipients can meet the increased costs of living. 

Mental Health Australia has made its Pre-Budget Submission available online. 

Other expected budget allocations in the Federal Budget for 2024 – 2025 may also impact people with disability. 

Some organisations provided input for the Australian Government to review when creating this year’s annual budget. National Disability Services, which engages with disability providers, has presented five main recommendations for the 2024 – 2025 Budget which are: 

• sector support for transformation;
• enhanced social procurement from supported employment services;
• sector support for industrial relations reform;
• the implementation of safeguarding initiatives;
• enhanced cybersecurity awareness and capabilities.

You can read more about the possible impact of the new budget on people with disability in this article: What to expect from the new Federal Budget as a person with disability.

If you or someone you love needs 24/7 mental health support, please visit:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 

Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

13YARN: 13 92 76

Have you accessed mental health services? How have these helped you?

Let the team at Talking Disability know on social media. 

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What to expect from the new Federal Budget as a person with disability