Media
Appointment of new CEO Community Mental Health Australia 
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Giulia Jones as Chief Executive officer as of 14 October 2024.
Giulia is a dynamic and accomplished CEO, board director, and board chair, with a broad career including not-for-profit, federal and state politics, trade unions and media advisory. She brings a proven track expertise in driving operational excellence, leading transformational change and creating lasting impact.
Giulia is a passionate advocate with proven ability to translate strategic goals into effective initiatives that deliver outstanding results. Most recently Giulia served as CEO of Painaustralia launching awareness days, strategic partnerships, federal parliamentary events and a national awards scheme for their sector. She also fought to maintain access to key medicines and medical procedures for those living with pain in Australia, she is looking forward to taking up the role of national CEO for CMHA to assist all those with a lived/living experience of distress and their families, kin or significant others in Australia and those who work with them in the community managed mental health sector.
Opinion Piece
Appropriate mental health support services for communities in a post-crisis stage
Unfortunately, when people say or hear the term “mental health” they often think in standard and stereotyped ways.
In their minds eye they see psychologists in offices, telephone counselling and support services, or they see people being prescribed and taking medication by GPs or psychiatrists.
They sometimes think of psychiatric wards and hospitals, or they might see a pile of self-help books, or increasingly, mobile phone apps and online mental health services.
While the above all have their place, a much more community embedded approach is what is needed.
CMHA and University of Sydney NDIS Transitions Final Report September 2019
Tracking transitions of people from PIR, PHaMs and D2DL into the NDIS
CMHA NDIS Transition Report April 2019.
Fewer people than expected are transitioning to the NDIS from PHaMs D2DL and PIR. Final report now released.
Budget 2018-19 – The devil is in the detail
Liz Crowther, Community Mental Health Australia President welcomed measures in the 2018-19 Federal Budget but noted that how they will work in practice is the devil in the detail.
CMHA 2018-19 Federal Budget media release
CMHA calls for a national mental health consumer peak
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) President Liz Crowther added the organisation’s support for the establishment of a national mental health consumer peak.
CMHA MEDIA RELEASE 4 APRIL 2018 – CMHA calls for a national mental health consumer peak
Report identifies NDIS gaps for people living with mental illness
The ‘Mind the Gap’ report, compiled by the University of Sydney and Community Mental Health Australia, highlights problems with the current state of the NDIS for people with psychosocial disability such as eligibility criteria that exclude many, slow uptake and engagement due to a disconnect between the notion of ‘disability’ and ‘mental health’, and inadequate involvement models for carers and families.
FINAL-NDIS-Mind-the-gap-report media release
CMHA 2018-19 Federal Pre-Budget Submission calls for investment in oversight, coordination and independence
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) President Liz Crowther called on the 2018-19 Federal Budget to include investment in processes which maintain oversight, coordination and independence of the NDIS and mental health reforms to ensure people living with a mental health condition receive services and have access to processes which are appropriate.
CMHA MEDIA RELEASE 14 December 2017- CMHA 2018-19 Federal Pre-Budget Submission
CMHA first community-led conference on mental health and the NDIS – working towards a good life
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) President Liz Crowther hailed the opening of the two-day CMHA conference as a step towards the sector working to achieve the potential of the NDIS to deliver a good life for people living with psychosocial disability.
CMHA MEDIA RELEASE 16 November – CMHA conference
World Mental Health Day – A reminder that this is about people
On World Mental Health Day, Kerry Hawkins, Vice President Community Mental Health Australia has asked for governments, agencies and anyone involved in mental health to remember who this is about – people living with a mental illness and psychosocial disability.
MEDIA RELEASE World Mental Health Day CMHA
Federal Budget 2017-18 – Leadership from Government welcome but now time for real action
Liz Crowther, President, Community Mental Health Australia welcomed the announcement from the Government to provide $80 million for psychosocial rehabilitation services and urged states, territories and the Federal Government to work together to achieve real action.
CMHA media release – Federal budget 2017 10 May 2017
MEDIA RELEASE 28 April 2017 – Federal Government must take responsibility for mental health
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) President Liz Crowther appeared before a hearing of the Joint Standing Committee on NDIS inquiry on mental health in the NDIS.
MEDIA RELEASE 28 APRILCMHA – Federal Government must take responsibiltiy for mental health
MEDIA RELEASE 23 March 2017 – Value of mental health carers must not be diminished by federal reforms
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) President Liz Crowther welcomed the release of the Mind Australia and University of Queensland report on The Economic value of informal mental health caring in Australia
MEDIA RELEASE 5 December 2016 – CMHA welcomes Parliamentary inquiry into mental health services in the NDIS
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) has welcomed the announcement by the Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS for an inquiry into the provision of services in the NDIS for people with a mental illness.
MEDIA RELEASE 11 October 2016 – Queensland Government announcement on recovery a step forward
Community Mental Health Australia President Liz Crowther has congratulated the Queensland Government’s Connecting Care to Recovery announcement.
11 October 2016 CMHA Media Release – Qld Government announcement on recovery a step forward
CMHA announces inaugural Executive Director
Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Bresnan as its inaugural Executive Director.
MEDIA RELEASE – Amanda Bresnan appointed as inaugural Executive Director of CMHA
Media contact:
Bill Gye (OAM)
CEO
Community Mental Health Australia
Email: ceo@cmha.org.au
Mob: 0438 698 058