Funding Gap Leaves Thousands Without Care
The Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA) has criticised the latest State Budget for not addressing the needs of 19,000 South Australians who require community-based mental health support as of 4th June 2026.
Three years after the release of The Unmet Needs Study by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist, which highlighted the lack of support for those with severe mental illness, the expected $125 million annual investment remains unfulfilled.
Geoff Harris, Executive Director of the MHCSA, expressed frustration, stating, "Three years of waiting, three years of reports, three years of recommendations, and still nothing. The Government had the evidence, it had the opportunity, and it had a clear ask from the sector and from its own reports. Those 19,000 South Australians are still waiting."
Impact of NDIS Reforms
The Federal Government's recent NDIS reform package further complicates the situation by reducing eligibility for over 160,000 participants, particularly affecting those with psychosocial disabilities. NDIS approval rates for mental health-related applications have plummeted from 66% in 2020-21 to 25% in recent data.
Harris warned, "The NDIS reforms will push more people out of the scheme and into a system that is already strained. Without investment in community based mental health support, those people will end up in emergency departments and crisis services, the most expensive and for some people a traumatising response to their needs."
Despite calls from The Unmet Needs Study and the Productivity Commission Review, the State Budget continues to focus on hospital beds rather than community support, which is deemed more sustainable and effective in preventing crises.
The MHCSA urges the government to commit to a $125 million annual investment plan, stating that relying on a Commonwealth solution is not viable while thousands remain unsupported.
Harris concluded, "The evidence is not in dispute. The recommendations have been made repeatedly, by economists, clinicians, and the Government's own department. What is missing is the political will to act on them. Those 19,000 South Australians, and their families and carers cannot wait another year."
