Sydney: 24 June 2026
For immediate release.
NSW Budget 2026: Mental health bodies demand Minister release the 2024 Gap Analysis in the wake of no new funding
SYDNEY, 24 June 2026 – BEING – Mental Health Consumers thanks Minister Rose Jackson and the Minns Government for investing $4.3 million into mental health advocacy. This is the largest increase in mental health advocacy funding, from the NSW Government, in the last 25 years. Across the three mental health peak bodies, the $4.3 million over the next four years equates to around an extra $333,000 per organisation a year. For this, we are grateful.
“With the Government’s commitment to funding a strong voice for mental health consumers across NSW in this Budget, our independent frank and fearless advice starts with this Budget”, said Mx. Giancarlo de Vera, CEO of BEING.
The Government’s announcement boasted an extra $112 million in “new” mental health funding, but the fact of the matter is $108 million of this funding is just reannouncements of previous commitments: $64.8 million was already committed to the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, currently being negotiated by Australian governments, and $43.3 million to Lifeline is just the fulfilment of an election commitment.
“In truth, there is very little new investment for mental health in this Budget and nearly no new funding for expanded mental health services, at a time when mental health challenges are on the rise and mental health services, across the state, are in crisis — underfunded and understaffed—all in a cost-of-living crisis” said Mx de Vera.
That’s why BEING, alongside the other mental health peak bodies, and more than 20+ leading mental health and justice organisations have released a joint statement on Budget night, outlining the human cost of underfunding mental health services in NSW, and presenting a four-point plan for positive reform.
“Despite more than 200,000 people in NSW experiencing severe or complex mental health issues each year, and more than 58,000 of these people unable to access care they need, the fact that this Budget provides no more certainty on NSW’s investment in psychosocial supports for those unable to access the NDIS, is playing with peoples’ lives”.
The NSW Mental Health Minister has a gap analysis report that tells us where and how much is needed to address unmet need. That report, completed in late 2024, has not yet been made public. We call on the Minister for Mental Health to release the report, and work with us on how to fill the gaps so NSW citizens can be guaranteed fully funded supports”, urged Mx de Vera.
Download the media release here.
Media contact: Julian Clarkson | Marketing and Communications Director,
BEING – Mental Health Consumers | 0430 606 602 | communications@being.org.au