National Mental Health Sector Reference Group Meeting June 2026

The National Mental Health Sector Reference Group (NMHSRG) met on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. The meeting was held online.

Focus of the meeting

The focus of the June meeting was:

  • Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) update on reforms
  • Data presentations
  • Psychosocial Recovery Coach Evaluation.

NDIA update

  • The Government has announced a plan to Secure the NDIS for future generations.
  • The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website has more information on these changes:
  • Current NDIS eligibility and planning policies remain in place.
    • Participants should continue to use their plans in the best way that support their needs to access disability related supports and services.
    • Following consultation with people with disability and their families, carers and advocates, the rollout of new framework planning will be delayed until 1 April 2027. Gives the NDIA more time to test and improve new framework planning processes and information directly with participants.
    • The NDIA wants to test the new way of planning with participants. Information on how to take part is available on our Engage Engagement opportunities for the new way of planning page.
  • The NDIS Quarterly Report for 1 January to 31 March 2026 is now available. The report shares data about the NDIS and stories from participants.

Member feedback included:

  • People are unsure about what the proposed changes mean for them.
  • The NDIA should give information to participants earlier:
    • This should include clear, accessible and timely updates about the proposed changes, expected to start by October 2026, including:
      • Social, community and civic participation.
      • Capacity building, daily activities.
  • A lack of clear and accessible information could lead to misinformation. The NDIA should give more support and reassurance to participants.
  • Participants, families and carers are extremely stressed by the proposed changes.
  • The NDIA should work with NMHSRG members, carers and relevant peak bodies that support participants and families.

The NDIA responded:

  • The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) are leading communication on the reforms.
  • The NDIA plans to keep people informed as it introduces changes.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) update on reforms

The Government introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 on 14 May 2026.

DHDA talked about the proposed NDIS Bill. This includes:

  1. Returning the NDIS to its original intent.
  2. Delivering genuine social and community participation.
  3. Improving the quality of providers.
  4. Tackling fraud and non-compliance.
  5. Timelines for changes in the Bill are included in the reform timeline .

The update included:

  • DHDA is preparing for engagement and consultation about the proposed changes. Some consultation cannot happen until the Bill passes.
  • DHDA wrote the National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms - Impact analysis .
  • DHDA wants to understand the impacts the reforms will have on:
    • Participants, family and carers.
      • Other service systems like health, education, employment and housing.
  • DHDA is working with states and territories to set up a Technical Advisory Group to help develop and guide new access rules.

Member feedback included:

  • Members said the Technical Advisory Group must include psychosocial expertise to make sure:
    • The new eligibility process works for people with psychosocial disability.
    • Access rates for people with psychosocial disability do not decrease further.
  • Reducing community and civic participation funding may make it harder for participants to take part in every day and community life, including:
    • Going to medical appointments.
    • Shopping and getting the services they need.
    • Making and keeping friendships.
  • It is important that NDIA support needs assessors have psychosocial specific skills, knowledge, and experience. This will help:
    • Make sure that support needs assessments meet the needs of people with psychosocial disability.
    • Reduce the risk of participants receiving plans that do not match their disability support needs.

Data presentation updates

The Psychosocial Performance Report

The Psychosocial Performance Report outlines data differences between participants with psychosocial disability and other participants in the NDIS.

Member feedback included:

  • There were less participants in the under 25 age group than expected.
    • The NDIA should look at trends over time and explore possible reasons as part of a future data analysis.

Funding periods

The Funding Periods Report summarises data insights over the period of May 2025 to December 2025.

Funding periods started in May 2025 to help participants to budget better.

Member feedback included:

  • It would be helpful to see detailed data about participants with psychosocial disability. This will help to understand:
    • Where participants are not using all the funding in their plans within a funding period.
    • The impacts of not using all their funding.
  • Support needs can change over time for people with psychosocial disability.
    • A participant may need more funding during one plan period and use less funding in another.

Psychosocial Recovery Coach

The NDIA talked about work it is doing to better understand how the Psychosocial Recovery Coach is being implemented in practice.

Understanding how the psychosocial recovery coach role works will help the NDIA understand:

  • How it supports participants with psychosocial disability.
  • How it works alongside other supports available for participants.
  • How the role aligns with the goals and directions of current NDIS reforms.

Next meeting

The next NMHSRG meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 1 September 2026.