Australians for Mental Health (AFMH) has welcomed the Federal Government’s $517 million Disability Peer Support and Connections Program, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening community-based mental health support across Australia. The initiative aims to fund organisations delivering peer support, capacity building, and social connection services for people with disability under the age of 65, including those who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The organisation said the program reflects a growing understanding that clinical treatment alone is not sufficient to address Australia’s mental health challenges. AFMH Executive Director Chris Gambian noted that many people with disability and complex mental health needs have long been left without adequate support until they reach crisis point, and that community connection and peer-led approaches are essential for ongoing wellbeing.
The program arrives alongside broader national efforts to reform the NDIS and strengthen supports outside the scheme, which currently assists more than 760,000 Australians and represents a major area of government spending. AFMH said the new funding could help fill critical gaps in “foundational supports” for people with lower or emerging needs who do not qualify for intensive services.
However, the organisation also cautioned that short-term grant funding is not enough to ensure lasting impact. It warned that many service providers remain dependent on fragmented funding cycles, making long-term planning difficult and limiting program stability.
AFMH has called for more sustained investment and a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to mental health policy. It is also advocating for structural reforms such as a national Wellbeing Act and an independent Commissioner to ensure mental health considerations are embedded across sectors including health, education, housing, and disability.
