We support people experiencing mental health and wellbeing concerns to find help, hope and purpose in their lives.
We provide individualised, evidence-based and recovery focussed support to more than 11,000 people experiencing mental health and wellbeing concerns in Australia every year.
We partner with health, community, and government organisations to provide holistic support and a safe environment for people experiencing mental health and wellbeing concerns to live in the community.
We have been providing mental health and wellbeing support to people, and their families, friends and carers, for more than 45 years.
We are:
- one of the largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services in Australia with a range of residential, mobile outreach, centre-based and online services
- a leading employer of people with lived experience of mental ill-health, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and guide recovery
- one of the leading specialist community housing providers in Australia for people experiencing a psychosocial disability
- a registered NDIS provider, entrusted to deliver federal and state government funded services across Australia
Download the Mind brochure (PDF, 177 KB)
Our approach
We know that every individual's journey to a life of meaning and purpose is unique, which is why our support services are flexible and offer genuine choice and control.
Mind provides practical and motivational support to people 16 - 64 years of age who have a range of mental health and wellbeing concerns. We work with clients to set goals, and develop the
knowledge and skills to achieve them. We focus on our clients’ strengths, values and support preferences to improve:
- quality of life
- daily living skills
- capacity for self-care
- mental and physical health
- social and relationship skills
- housing, education and employment.
We also work with people to address poverty, housing, education and employment.
We also have practitioners able to provide specialised therapies to address more complex behaviours and needs. This includes supporting people who have intellectual disability and mental health and wellbeing concerns.
Find out more about our services.
Lived experience
Committed to lived experience inclusion and leadership
Mind is a recognised leader in the delivery and innovation of lived experience approaches in mental ill-health. We strive for meaningful participation with clients, carers and families, to co-design processes and challenge biases. We value the diverse perspectives of people with lived experience of mental ill-health across service design, governance, business development and senior leadership. We have a strong commitment to employing peer practitioners across all service models, as well as employing staff in designated lived experience roles in other key departments (10% of our workforce in 2021). We also ensure our Board and senior leadership includes people with lived experience.
Find out more about Mind's Lived Experience Strategy.
Partnerships
Connecting clients to holistic community-based supports to enhance recovery
Collaboration and partnership are hallmarks of Mind’s service ethos. We have built an extensive network of clinical, community-based, government and non-government partners to achieve the best outcomes for our clients. Mind partners with clients, carers and families to co-design and deliver innovative mental health and wellbeing supports for adults and young people that is aligned with international best practice.
Mind is an NDIS registered provider delivering services through residential, mobile outreach, centre-based and online methods. Our partnerships enable Mind to seamlessly connect clients to a range of local supports and services in their own communities, for an integrated and holistic care experience.
Measuring outcomes
Monitoring client recovery, improving service delivery and evaluating our impact
Mind is an industry-leader in utilising real-time data to measure psychosocial mental health outcomes and incorporate that knowledge into improved service design and delivery. Outcome measures enhance Mind’s accountability by enabling us and our clients to assess the effectiveness of our services, keep track of clients’ progress against their recovery plans and provide evidence of success to our funders and partners.
Thought leadership
Striving for social change and informing policy making
Our impact extends beyond service delivery. We invest in research and advocacy to build and translate the evidence about what works in mental health recovery into policy and practice wisdom. As well as our own published research, we’ve contributed our sought-after expertise to state and federal government inquiries, including the landmark Productivity Commission into Mental Health and Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
Find out more about Policy and Advocacy at Mind.
Key tools and services
My Better Life
Keeping clients in control of their recovery
My Better Life® recognises that every recovery journey is unique and requires choice, flexibility and individualised client care. The My Better Life assessment and planning tool supports clients to articulate their recovery goals, design their recovery journey and manage their own wellbeing in partnership with their family, carers and Mind’s practitioners. The tool is built around 12 key life domains fundamental to wellbeing and is informed by international evidence, Mind’s service data and evaluation studies, and years of co-design with clients, carers and communities. Find out more about My Better Life.
Mind Recovery College
Supporting clients to be experts in their own wellbeing
The Mind Recovery College® is the first of its kind in Australia. The award-winning service assists our clients to develop the knowledge and skills required to achieve their My Better Life goals. Clients choose from a suite of mental health and wellbeing courses designed to address their needs. Content is co-designed, and primarily delivered by peer-facilitators who use their mental health lived experience to inform their teaching. Find out more about Mind Recovery College.
Home and living
Enabling recovery in the community through support into homes
Mind is one of the largest providers of NDIS-funded supported independent living services in Australia for people with psychosocial disability. In partnership with our subsidiary, community housing provider The Haven Foundation, Mind delivers cost-effective, long-term housing supports with 24/7 onsite staff. Our housing models are proven to provide stability, independence and a greater sense of belonging and confidence to our clients. Find out more about Housing at Mind.
Values and accreditation
Mind Australia Limited is an incorporated company limited by guarantee, not for profit organisation. We are supported by a range of trusts, foundations, community organisations and individuals, including regular donors that contribute via our iMind program.
Mind values hope, creativity and innovation, client focus, making a difference and integrity.
Mind recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of this land and that sovereignty was never ceded.
Mind includes people of all ages, abilities, cultures, genders, sexualities, backgrounds, bodies and spiritualities.
Mind commits to a culture of continuous improvement in practice and service delivery with staff whose expertise, passion, diversity and professionalism fuels an unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients. Mind is bound by the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter Act) and the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019.
We are committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, and provide an environment where children and young people feel safe respected, and have their voices heard. Mind supports the rights of children and will act without hesitation to ensure child safety is maintained at all times. Find out more about Mind and child safety.
Mind is accredited to the following standards:
- Quality Improvement Council for Health and Community Service Standards (QIC)
- National Standards for Mental Health Services (NSMHS)
- Human Services Standards in Victoria (HSS)
- NDIS Safeguarding and Quality Standards.
Quick links
First Nations acknowledgement
Mind Australia acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise the intergenerational impact of the history of invasion, dispossession and colonisation and are committed to the recognition, respect, inclusion and wellbeing of Australia’s First Peoples.
We are committed to change across our organisation that will support improved outcomes and experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
We recognise that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities experience disproportionately high rates of mental ill-health, suicide and lower life-expectancy and that these experiences are interrelated with the ongoing impacts of dispossession, colonisation, inter-generational trauma and structural racism.
Our journey to support reconciliation is about seeking substantive changes to improve lives. Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) (PDF 1.2 MB) was designed to ensure that we have the foundations in place to meaningfully contribute to reconciliation.
Mind Australia proudly supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart – an invitation to the Australian people from First Nations Australians. The Uluru Statement from the Heart asks Australians to walk together to build a better future by establishing a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution, and the establishment of a Makarrata Commission for the purpose of treaty making and truth-telling.
Mind also supports The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration – the touchstone of Gayaa Dhuwi Australia’s work to reform Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention and secure a fit for purpose mental health system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Stories from the Mind community
- The time is now for diverse and culturally safe housing solutions: Respect in action webinar
- Improving housing and mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Mind Australia’s commitment to Indigenous procurement
- Shaun’s story – how connecting with country helps heal
Mind services & COVID-19
Mind has made some changes within our services to ensure we protect our clients and their families, our staff, and the community from COVID-19, while continuing to provide mental health and wellbeing support.
Read more at Mind services & COVID-19.