The Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW) has welcomed aspects of the Federal Budget 2026–27, including continued investment in healthcare, suicide prevention, women’s health, and targeted support for communities impacted by the Bondi attack.
At the same time, CMW has expressed concern that multicultural mental health continues to remain largely absent from broader mental health reform discussions.
CMW noted that psychological well-being is shaped not only by access to treatment but also by experiences of safety, inclusion, trust, belonging, and cultural responsiveness. These issues continue to significantly affect many Muslim and multicultural communities across Australia.
The organisation highlighted the ongoing impacts of Islamophobia and racism, housing stress, grief linked to global conflict, and barriers to culturally responsive mental health care.
CMW also raised concerns about reductions to multicultural affairs funding, warning that underinvestment in community infrastructure risks weakening prevention, trust, and social cohesion efforts.
CMW is calling on the Federal Government to strengthen investment in culturally responsive mental health care, workforce development, community-led prevention initiatives, and anti-racism efforts.
The organisation stated that meaningful mental health reform must place prevention, cultural safety, trust, and belonging at the centre of community wellbeing.
