The Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition urges the Productivity Commission to prioritise mental health prevention, advocating systemic, evidence-based investment, cross-sector coordination, and long-term strategies to strengthen wellbeing, resilience, and economic outcomes.
Summary
This submission highlights Australia’s rising mental health challenges, particularly among young people, and the unsustainable costs of a treatment-focused system. It advocates a dual-systems approach that elevates prevention alongside care, informed by evidence and public health successes.
Key proposals include:
Workforce development and long-term planning to deliver high-quality, timely mental health support.
Cross-portfolio coordination using the Socio-Ecological Model to address individual, community, and societal determinants of mental health.
Early intervention and promotion targeting children and youth, reducing distress, preventing mental illness, and improving life outcomes.
Economic rationale for prevention, showing strong return on investment for interventions addressing anxiety, depression, and child maltreatment.
Illustrative programs include parenting support, anti-bullying initiatives, and wellbeing-focused reforms to embed systemic improvements.
By embedding prevention, Australia can break the costly cycle of reactive mental health care, build resilient communities, and generate profound lifelong benefits for young people and society.
SHARE THIS
With six connected areas, The Nest ensures young Australians have everything they need for the best start in life, helping them reach their highest potential.
Using The Nest, has helped ARACY to be at the forefront of disease prevention and the promotion of holistic health for young Australians.
Here you’ll see some examples of how The Nest has been used in organisations outside of ARACY across Australia.
