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The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed a successful meeting with Senator Jacqui Lambie, during which the Senator expressed strong support for vocationally trained counsellors and their vital role in Australia’s mental health system.

Today on International Youth Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA)reaffirms its commitment to supporting the mental wellbeing of young people across the country.

Today on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) stands in recognition of the rich cultures, contributions, and enduring wisdom of First Nations and Indigenous communities around the world.

Recent commentary from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reignited debate on the growing trend of using AI chatbots for therapeutic support. Surveys suggest that nearly half of people experiencing mental health challenges who also use AI are turning to large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT for help. While these tools are attractive, always available, cost-free, and accessible, serious concerns remain about privacy, safety, and efficacy.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins the nation in recognising Aged Care Employee Day, a time to honour the dedicated professionals who provide compassionate care and dignity to our elders each and every day.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed correspondence from the Queensland Minister for Education and the Arts, the Hon. John-Paul Langbroek MP, in response to concerns raised about the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

This Loneliness Awareness Week, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA)is calling on individuals, communities, and workplaces to recognise the often invisible impact of loneliness on mental health and to take action.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins communities across the nation in celebrating National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and cultural pride of First Nations children.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins the global community in recognising World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August), acknowledging not just the physical act of breastfeeding, but the profound emotional, psychological, and social challenges that often accompany early parenthood.

On World Lung Cancer Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) joins health organisations and communities worldwide in raising awareness about lung cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally.

A two-year independent investigation in Pennsylvania has revealed the devastating consequences of underfunding, broken promises, and systemic neglect in mental health care. Once heralded as a leader in deinstitutionalisation and community reform, the state’s vision for a modern, community-based mental health system has collapsed into a grim reality of homelessness, incarceration, and preventable deaths.

Over the past 25 years, mental health awareness has transformed from silence to visibility. Campaigns, school programs, and social media have played an important role in breaking stigma and encouraging help-seeking. Yet as Professor Patrick McGorry highlights, blanket awareness programs in schools may be creating unintended harms including increased distress, misdiagnosis, and misplaced confidence in “awareness” as a substitute for real care.

As the world marks International Day of Friendship, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) calls on communities across the country to reflect on the deep importance of friendship, not just as a social luxury, but as a vital ingredient for mental wellbeing, resilience, and human flourishing.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed correspondence from the Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, the Hon. Tim Nicholls MP, in response to our concerns regarding the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) expresses deep concern following the announcement that Ramsay Health Care will close 17 of its psychology clinics, leaving thousands of Australians at risk of losing access to crucial mental health services.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has today submitted its final response to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, calling for bold reform, structural inclusivity, and recognition of the full spectrum of mental health professionals already delivering care across the country.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed recent correspondence from the Northern Territory Minister for Education and Training, acknowledging the validity of VMHPAA’s concerns regarding the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) fully supports the recommendation for a National Bullying Standard for schools - a standardized framework to shift school cultures towards respect, early intervention, and prevention.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed recent correspondence from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, responding on behalf of Ministers Andrew Giles MP (Skills and Training) and Amanda Rishworth MP (Employment and Workplace Relations) to our concerns regarding the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) today held a productive meeting with Dr. Sarah Miller, Coordinator-General for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Dr. Sue Fitzpatrick, Chief Allied Health Officer from ACT Health, to discuss the potential impacts of the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.