Expressions of interest open: help shape national mental health and suicide prevention reform
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Applications are now open for lived experience representatives to contribute to governance, workforce and data initiatives under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
Roses in the Ocean, Australia’s national lived experience of suicide organisation, is supporting the
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the department) to appoint lived experience of suicide representatives to support the work of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials (MHSPSO) Group, Data Governance Forum (DGF) and National Mental Health Workforce Working Group (Working Group) under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement).
About the opportunities
The
National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement sets out the shared intention of the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to work together to improve mental health and suicide prevention outcomes, supported by bilateral schedules between the Commonwealth and each state and territory government.
The National Agreement is governed by MHSPSO, which was established to oversee and help implement the National Agreement. MHSPSO is supported by Working and Project Groups to progress targeted work programs, including the Safety and Quality Group, the DGF (through the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) and the Psychosocial Project Group. The Working Group also reports to MHSPSO on key workforce priorities.
The current National Agreement commits governments to working with people with lived experience in its implementation, including the design, delivery and evaluation of services. Lived experience representatives have been supporting the work of MHSPSO and its Working and Project Groups through a mix of arrangements since their establishment. These arrangements are now being refreshed as part of broader transitional changes to governance during the 12-month extension period.
A total of five lived experience of suicide positions will be available across MHSPSO and its Working Groups. Positions are for an initial 12-month period from July 2026 to June 2027 aligning with the 12-month extension of the National Agreement, with a possibility of extension
Available positions
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials Group
The department is seeking two lived experience of suicide representatives to support the work of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials (MHSPSO) Group, under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement).
About MHSPSO
MHSPSO was established to oversee the implementation of the National Agreement. Under clause 52(b) of the National Agreement, Commonwealth and State Health Chief Executives and where relevant, Mental Health Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), have responsibility and accountability for the implementation of the National Agreement, with the ability to delegate these implementation functions to MHSPSO.
Who can be involved?
We encourage people with a lived experience of suicide, with an interest and/or background in governance, policy and reform to apply for this opportunity.
There are two open positions on the MHSPSO, one position available for an individual with lived experience of suicide attempt or suicidal distress; and one for an individual with a lived experience supporting someone living with suicidal distress, or who has been bereaved by suicide.
National Mental Health Workforce Working Group
The department is seeking two lived experience of suicide representatives to support the work of the National Mental Health Workforce Working Group (Working Group) under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement).
About the Working Group
The Working Group was established to oversee and guide the implementation of the 10-year National Mental Health Workforce Strategy (Strategy) and consider workforce-specific clauses under the National Agreement.
Who can be involved?
We encourage people with a lived experience of suicide, with an interest and/or background in suicide prevention peer workforce, knowledge and experience of the broad mental health and suicide prevention system, including non-clinical and suicide prevention workforce areas.
There are two open positions on the Working Group, one position available for an individual with lived experience of suicide attempt or suicidal distress; and one for an individual with a lived experience supporting someone living with suicidal distress, or who has been bereaved by suicide.
Data Governance Forum
The department is seeking a lived experience of suicide representative to support the work of the Data Governance Forum (DGF) under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement).
About the DGF
The DGF was established to oversee and facilitate implementation of the data and performance measurement commitments specified in the National Agreement. The DGF reports to MHSPSO in accordance with the National Agreement governance structures.
Who can be involved?
We encourage people with a lived experience of suicide, with an interest and/or background in data governance to apply for this opportunity.
If you have any questions at all, please reach out to the Roses in the Ocean team at enquiries@rosesintheocean.com.au
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