Mental Health Workforce Strategy
This page includes information about the ACT's Mental Health Workforce Strategy.
The strategy includes:
- a 10-year framework for change
- shorter term frameworks for action
- work plans.
A Framework for Change: the ACT Mental Health Workforce Strategy
In 2022 the ACT Government released the first part of the Strategy—A Framework for Change: the ACT Mental Health Workforce Strategy.
We consulted with stakeholders across the mental health sector to write the framework. It also draws on a literature review completed in 2022.
The framework outlines the aim, values, principles, and priority areas for reform.
Together we agreed on the most important areas of need and desired results for the ACT mental health workforce.
The four focus areas for mental health workforce reform we identified are:
- data-driven, planning, monitoring and evaluation
- attraction, recruitment and retention
- education, training, research and innovation
- developing and embedding the lived experience workforce.
Framework for Action 2023-2026 including 2024 Work Plan
We released the second part of the strategy, the Framework for Action 2023-2026, including 2024 Work Plan on 27 November 2023.
The Framework for Action includes 14 areas for action we will take between 2023 and 2026.
The 2024 Work Plan includes 34 actions we will take under the 14 areas for action in the first year. This is our groundwork for future plans.
Skilled to succeed: skills and workforce agenda for the ACT
In 2022 the ACT Government released the Skilled to Succeed: Skills and workforce agenda for the ACT.
Caring professions, including mental health workers, are a priority area to develop.
The ACT Government is developing an industry action plan for the care sector. This will help us find out the skills needs of our future workforce.
The plan will include specific actions for industry, training providers and government.
Actions may include:
- targeting subsidies to promote mental health qualifications
- continuing to offer mental health qualifications as part of the Fee Free TAFE program, in partnership with the Australian Government.
The Certificate IV in Mental Health was the fifth most popular course for Fee Free TAFE in 2023. There were close to 100 enrolments. For more information about fee free courses and skills needs in the ACT visit the ACT Government skills web site.