Last week in Brisbane, TheMHS Conference 2025: Envisioning 2050 was held from 2–5 September. The event united people with lived experience, carers, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders from across Australia and New Zealand to reflect on the journey of mental health supports, share lived experiences and ignite bold visions for transformative change in the decades ahead. 

The conference began with the Carer and Consumer Forum, which Dr Evelyne Tadros, CEO of Mental Health Coordinating Council was pleased to attend.

Priscilla Brice, CEO of the new National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, delivered a compelling presentation that emphasised the need to call stigma what it truly is — discrimination. Her words were powerful and thought-provoking. Priscilla’s leadership and clarity continue to inspire change-makers across the sector to push boundaries and advocate for meaningful reform.

There was also an undeniable energy in the room — particularly from younger attendees. Their courage in sharing lived experiences, and their respectful yet passionate calls for systemic change, were deeply moving. Their voices are actively shaping the future of mental health advocacy, and it was an honour to witness.

Key highlights

Mental Health Carers Australia (MHCA) presented on the adoption of relational approaches to recovery as a cornerstone of systemic advocacy. MHCA is urging services to move beyond carer-inclusive models and instead embed truly relational practices in care.

• Sue Baker shared international youth perspectives through Changing Minds Globally. A standout moment was a video featuring young people imagining life in 2050 — where mental health has become mainstream and unburdened by shame or stigma. The clear hope: a future where mental health is proactively supported, and discussions about it are as normalised as talking about the weather. Sue called for mental health to be embedded across all public policy — not just health — recognising its impact across every facet of life.
• Dr Rebecca Huntley spoke of her lived experience and memoir Sassafras: A memoir of love, loss and MDMA therapy. She reflected on what psychedelics taught her about connection, healing from complex trauma, and the power of nature and relationships in addressing intergenerational trauma. Rebecca’s talk also addressed social trends impacting mental health — such as the intersections of climate, housing, and cost-of-living crises — and the protective role of social capital. She also presented on Lifeline’s work on climate-driven extreme weather events and their mental health impacts.
• Dr Daniel Fung delivered a keynote titled Beautiful minds, loving hearts: Asian mental health ecosystems in 2050. He spoke about global governance and service gaps and explored how cultural and religious perceptions of mental health in Asia are being transformed through innovation and person-centred care. Dr Fung suggested that instead of a dystopian future, recovery may be shaped by resilience, spirituality, and conscious use of digital tools.

Dr Evelyne Tadros also attended a session on the Trieste model, which is expected to evolve into the PATH to Community model of mental health care (Person-centred, Adaptive, Trauma-informed, and Holistic). This builds on the ACI Rapid Review and the model formerly referred to as Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT).

Dr Tadros chaired the session on Shifting the Narrative: Challenging the Stigma. Speakers included:

• A team from Qld Health and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning, presenting their #BeTheChange campaign
• Gayle McNaught (SANE) on stigma in media coverage, particularly following the Bondi Junction incident, and SANE’s StigmaWatch project
• Dr Steph Kershaw (Matilda Centre) on media representation of drug-related deaths
• Tariq Isaacs (Matilda Centre) on co-developing lived experience videos around methamphetamine use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Melanie Pennisi and Natalie Scott (Qld Mental Health Commission) who outlined multiple initiatives focused on eliminating stigma

We also had Katy Sam, MHCC’s Project Coordinator and Policy Officer, deliver two presentations on:

• Enhancing Research Capacity in Community-Managed Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Sectors
• Building Capacity in the CMO Mental Health Workforce through Supported Decision-Making Training

These sessions were key opportunities to highlight the value of research in the sector and reinforce the case for sustained investment in training and development — ensuring that supported decision-making becomes everyday practice, not just a policy goal.

On the final day, Dr Tadros also attended a powerful session on psychedelic-assisted treatment, with discussion of current research, access, equity, and future opportunities.

Celebrating sector achievements

A special congratulations to Mental Health Coordinating Council member WayAhead, who received the Mental Health Promotion Award.

Looking ahead, TheMHS Conference 2026 will be hosted in Sydney. We look forward to partnering with the TheMHS Learning Network in support of this conference next year.

To express interest in attending, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) here. This will keep you informed of speaker announcements, key dates, and program highlights. As a thank you, TheMHS Learning Network will offer a 10% early bird discount code once registrations open.