National Mental Health Commission


The National Mental Health Commission is an Australian Government executive agency established in 2012 under the Health portfolio to provide independent reports and recommendations to the community and governments on mental health services and outcomes in Australia. The NMHC's role is purely advisory and does not advocate for specific individuals or groups, but for better system outcomes and accountability. The current Chair of the NMHC is Lucinda Brodgen, with Christine Morgan as the Chief Executive Officer. Brodgen is supported by 11 other Commissioners, including Morgan.

Major projects

Reducing Restrictive Practices

In August 2013, the NMHC commissioned researchers from the University of Melbourne to conduct a national review of the ways that seclusion and restraints are used in mental health care services in Australia and ways to reduce or eliminate the use of restraints. The project was led by Bernadette McSherry from the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. Following a national survey conducted in May 2014, a final report was presented to the commission in August 2014.