Models of Care Consortium
Orygen has been engaged by the Department of Health and Aged Care to lead a diverse consortium of organisations from the youth mental health sector to deliver sector-led advice to the Australian Government on the existing system of mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25 years, and potential new and/or refined models of care for mental health services for young people.
Related documents
about the project
Youth mental health research has flourished globally, generating significant evidence for effective treatments and service models. The primary aim of this project was to understand the current landscape of youth mental health services in Australia and provide advice to the government on what can be done better.
Many of Australia’s leading youth mental health organisations joined to form a consortium to deliver this advice, including Orygen, headspace, batyr, the Brain and Mind Centre (University of Sydney), yourtown, Youth Focus, Mission Australia, SANE and ReachOut, supported by subject matter and project management expertise from Department of General Practice and Primary Care (University of Melbourne), Indigenous Professional Services Management Consultants, Monash University Health Economics Group and dandolopartners.
Together the consortium delivers a complementary blend of mental health expertise, project management skills, lived experience expertise, First Nations engagement, system and service design and delivery, along with technical, policy, research and evaluation expertise.
Recognising that extensive engagement with various youth mental health services and young people Australia-wide was essential, the consortium engaged in nationwide consultations from late-March into early June 2025, seeking to prioritise the voices and experiences of young people across Australia, as well as their families, carers and supporters, in recommendations on youth mental health services.
participation
As a national-focused project, we had a strong commitment to engaging with a broad and diverse range of the Australian community, including a focus on priority populations. Cultural accessibility, human rights and intersectionality were factored into the consultation design to ensure diverse young people can feel safe to contribute to the project.
Young people, family members, carers and supporters were invited to share their experiences, expertise and advice.
This input helped us understand how the youth mental health system is currently working and what could be changed or implemented to improve young people’s access to supports and services and improve the experiences and outcomes for young people and those who support them.
Participation was voluntary and offered a number of ways:
Young people, families, carers and supporters
- Youth workshops for people aged 16-25 were held in each state and territory; including the unique experiences of First Nations young people, the LGBTIQ+ community, young people from rural and remote areas, young people with disability and young people from multicultural communities.
- Online workshops have been held to enable parents, siblings, carers and supporters of young people with lived experience to share their insights, experiences and knowledge and have honest, empowering conversations around the youth mental health system and their experiences of it.
- Young people, families, cares and supporters were invited to share their experiences online in a confidential submission.
For service providers and key stakeholders
- In-person roundtable discussions were held for sector stakeholders in each state and territory.
- First Nations organisations around Australia, including rural and remote areas, were engaged online and over the phone.
- A broad range of sector stakeholders were invited to make a written submission online.
- Online discussion forums were facilitated with stakeholders who held technical expertise and specific experience in key areas identified through the consultation process.
The consultation process has now closed. The consortium extends its deep appreciation to everyone who has participated in the project and shared their time, experiences, passion, and expertise.
The robust engagement helps ensure that the advice provided to the Australian government is based on lived experience and best practice.
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About dandolo
dandolo is a public policy and strategy consulting firm, with a proud 22-year history of high quality, independent and impactful advice to organisations working in and around government. The team at dandolo are supporting the consortium with project management services, consultation logistics and facilitation of the roundtables and sector consultations.