At the Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW), we believe that mental health care must be inclusive, culturally safe, and grounded in lived experience. Our communities deserve systems that truly reflect their realities, values, and strengths.
That’s why CMW recently contributed a formal submission to the Productivity Commission’s Final Review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
Our message is clear: while some progress has been made, Australia’s mental health system continues to underserve Muslim and culturally diverse communities. Structural barriers — including Islamophobia, cultural erasure, inaccessible services, and funding inequities — continue to undermine wellbeing and access to care.
What We’re Calling For:
- A National Muslim Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
- Faith-informed suicide prevention and trauma recovery initiatives
- Long-term, non-competitive funding for Muslim & CALD-led organisations
- Culturally and spiritually inclusive models of care
- Shared power and representation in mental health governance and reform
Our submission draws on direct insights from CMW’s work across Victoria — including youth resilience programs, trauma healing circles, carer support, cultural intelligence training, and frontline crisis response during times of community distress.
This is more than a policy submission — it’s a call to reimagine systems of care that restore dignity, trust, and equity for communities that have long been excluded from mainstream service design.
