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The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed recent correspondence from the Hon. Andrew Giles MP, Federal Minister for Skills and Training, and the Hon. Steve Whan MP, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, both acknowledging the important role of vocationally trained counsellors in Australia’s mental health workforce and the Association’s advocacy around the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapi

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has welcomed correspondence from the NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, the Hon. Steve Whan MP, in response to concerns about the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) continues to lead national advocacy on behalf of vocationally trained counsellors, ensuring that the voices of our members, and the communities they serve, are heard in the debate over the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has lodged a formal submission to the NSW Government’s consultation on the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) is pleased to acknowledge recent correspondence from the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, confirming that the concerns of vocationally trained counsellors and psychotherapists are being actively considered as part of the review of the Draft National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has lodged a submission to the NSW Government’s Art of Tax Reform consultation, urging policymakers to recognise the vital connection between cultural participation and community mental health.

The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) has today lodged a submission to the Australian Heritage Council in strong support of recognising the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Route on the National Heritage List.

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.