The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Ltd (QAMH) is a prominent nonprofit organisation serving as the peak body for the community mental health and wellbeing sector in Queensland, Australia. Established in the early 1990s, QAMH represents over 100 member organisations and individuals engaged in delivering community mental health services across the state. It functions as a key advocate, reformer, and driver of innovation within the mental health sector, focusing on enhancing service delivery and supporting people experiencing psychosocial disability[1][2][3][4].

History and Development

QAMH originated from a collaborative movement in the early 1990s where more than 50 community mental health organisations and groups in Queensland united to form an alliance. Over time, this alliance grew into a robust peak body representing a broad spectrum of community mental health services. Today, QAMH continues to build on this legacy, leading reforms and promoting contemporary approaches that shift the mental health system from illness management to actively supporting mental wellbeing[2][5].

Mission and Vision

The organisation’s vision is encapsulated in its framework Wellbeing First, which advocates for a mental health system prioritising population-wide wellbeing through early practical support for individuals experiencing mental distress. QAMH’s mission involves reforming, promoting, and driving the delivery of community mental health and wellbeing services to all Queenslanders. It seeks to unite its members and stakeholders to foster innovation, improve service quality, and influence positive change in mental health outcomes across the state[1][2].

Roles and Activities

As the peak body, QAMH undertakes several critical functions:

• Advocacy: QAMH provides a unified voice for community mental health organisations, representing their interests in discussions with government bodies, including advising on policies related to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and other legislation impacting people with psychosocial challenges.
• Member Support: It offers networking opportunities, training, and information to its members, helping build capacity and improve service delivery.
• Sector Leadership: QAMH collaborates with government agencies such as the Queensland Mental Health Commission and other stakeholders to promote system-wide reforms and innovate community mental health care.
• Public Education: The organisation works to raise community awareness about mental health issues, reducing stigma and barriers to inclusion[1][2][4].

Governance and Funding

QAMH is funded by the Queensland Government to provide peak body services to community mental health and wellbeing service providers, associated organisations, and individuals within Queensland. It is governed by a board, and its leadership includes a Chief Executive Officer, with Emily Wolter appointed to this role in February 2025, bringing her experience from previous leadership within the mental health sector[2].

Collaboration and Influence

Beyond state-level engagement, QAMH maintains formal collaborations with national bodies such as Community Mental Health Australia, Mental Health Australia, and the National Mental Health Commission. These partnerships allow QAMH to contribute to broader national mental health policy and practice while ensuring that Queensland’s community mental health sector is well represented[4].

Impact

By uniting over 100 organisations, QAMH effectively consolidates the interests and expertise of Queensland’s community mental health sector, contributing significantly to policy development, sector capacity-building, and the delivery of practical mental health supports. The organisation’s advocacy and reform efforts aim to create a mental health system that is person-centered, inclusive, and focused on wellbeing and recovery for all Queenslanders[1][2][5].

[1] https://www.qamh.org.au [2] https://www.qamh.org.au/about/about-qamh/ [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/3a49abe0-38af-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d/profile [4] https://engage.dss.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Queensland-Alliance-for-Mental-Health-QAMH_Redacted.pdf [5] https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/com/HCSC-26C6/RN17QMHCB2-72AA/submissions/00000014.pdf