National Stigma & Discrimination Reduction Strategy – Expressions of Interest Open

The National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy (The Strategy) includes a long-term vision for Australia where stigma and discrimination on the basis of mental ill-health are no longer barriers to people living long and contributing lives.

As a part of the mental health reform agenda the National Mental Health Commission has been tasked with developing a National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy.

The Strategy’s focus and objective include:

  • Reduce self-stigma amongst those who experience mental ill-health and those who support them
  • Reduce public stigma by changing attitudes and behaviours in the general community and amongst identified target audiences
  • Take steps towards eliminating structural stigma and discrimination towards those affected by mental ill-health in identified settings.

The Strategy will initially concentrate on stigma and discrimination reduction in the following settings:

  • Mental Health System
  • Health System
  • Financial Services, Insurance and Law
  • Education and Training
  • Employment
  • Social Services, Disability, Income Support and Housing

The Strategy will be developed in partnership with people with lived experience of mental ill-health and people who have been directly affected by stigma, along with people with other forms of expertise across the health sector and broader community.

The Commission has established a Steering Committee and series of Technical Advisory Groups to guide the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. The Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Groups are co-chaired by people with lived experience and people with other forms of expertise in the specific settings the strategy aims to change.

An initial series of 6 workshops will be held between 3 & 23 November 2021.

The Expression of Interest process will be open for applications until 9am AEDT Monday, 25 October 2021.

Note that lived experience participants in the workshops will be reimbursed in line with the Commission’s Paid Participation Policy.

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