With the federal election campaign now in full swing, APC is calling for fully funded student wellbeing and mental health support to be a top priority for the next government of Australia.

As a parent group, we can see first-hand the enormous impact of COVID and lockdowns on young people. We know that demand for mental health support has skyrocketed, and the shortfall in service provision needs to be urgently addressed. Fully funding mental health services is an investment in our children’s and Australia’s future.

Every child has the right to and should be supported to develop positive mental health. The 2021 National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy recognises this. However the strategy also reported that more than 50% of children experiencing mental health challenges are not receiving professional intervention.

APC would like to see the next government of Australia:

• Review the school chaplaincy program to explore and strengthen preventative mental health capacity. The review should address how to ensure school chaplains adopt evidence-based practice and are professionally trained and credentialled.
• Support the creation of unified mental health services in school communities to bridge the division between education and health service provision. These could be modelled on family hubs at schools, like the FamilyLinQ hubs in Queensland, which provide mental health services for children and young people where parents are also involved. This integrated approach enables schools, health professionals and families to work together to support children and young people.
• Ensure universal, timely and direct access to mental health services, programs and wellness support both in school and the community, that are fully funded and resourced. This should include access to school counsellors and mental health services provided by qualified professionals.
• Continue to support a consistent and ongoing focus on mental health and wellbeing in the curriculum and the pastoral care of students, including the provision of teaching and support resources for teachers, school staff, students and parents.

Mental Health support is the first of five priorities that APC we believe will improve education outcomes for all children in Australia. Our 2022 Federal Election Statement outlines the following priorities:

1. Easily accessible mental health support for children and young people
2. Positive measures to build and enhance strong partnerships between teachers, schools, parents, carers and community
3. A national strategy to improve the status of the teaching profession
4. Digital equity for all students and school communities
5. Fair and equitable funding based on need for every child.