Explore the National MHFA Summit program
The National MHFA Summit will unite the people and organisations driving mental health literacy and early intervention across Australia, building momentum towards 3 million Australians trained in Mental Health First Aid by 2030.
Day 1 brings together instructors, MHFAiders, workplaces, providers, researchers, lived experience representatives and sector leaders to explore the future of mental health first aid in Australia. Through shared learning, practical insights and meaningful connections, attendees will strengthen their impact and contribute to a collective vision for growing mental health literacy and early intervention.
Day 2 is dedicated to instructors, instructor administrators and those who work alongside them. It provides practical tools, professional development and strategic insights to strengthen programs, grow participation and support sustainable delivery, building confidence, consistency and capability across the instructor network.
Explore the National MHFA Summit program
The National MHFA Summit will unite the people and organisations driving mental health literacy and early intervention across Australia, building momentum towards 3 million Australians trained in Mental Health First Aid by 2030.
Day 1 brings together instructors, MHFAiders, workplaces, providers, researchers, lived experience representatives and sector leaders to explore the future of mental health first aid in Australia. Through shared learning, practical insights and meaningful connections, attendees will strengthen their impact and contribute to a collective vision for growing mental health literacy and early intervention.
Day 2 is dedicated to instructors, instructor administrators and those who work alongside them. It provides practical tools, professional development and strategic insights to strengthen programs, grow participation and support sustainable delivery, building confidence, consistency and capability across the instructor network.
Jump to:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 1 – Community Forum
Program
8:00am – 8:50am
Registration opens
9:00am – 9:15am
Welcome to Country
9:15am – 9:40am
Opening remarks
9:50am – 10:10am
Keynote
David McGrath
CEO, National Mental Health Commission
Australian Government’s mental health and suicide prevention priorities
10:10am – 10:30am
Panel Discussion
- Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, child psychologist and MHFA Instructor
- Suzanne Dick, CEO Prevention United
- Donal Scanlan, MHFA Ireland & Clinician
- Additional speaker TBA
Working together: A unified approach to early intervention, prevention and clinical care
10:30am – 10:55am
Morning Tea
Merch store | Morning Tea | Networking
Steam 1 – Workplace Leadership
Stream 2 – Stronger Communities
Stream 3 – MHFA in Practice
10:55am – 11:05am
Introduction to stream
Introduction to stream
Introduction to stream
11:05am – 11:30am
Stream 1 – Presentation
Large-scale MHFA implementation in pharmacy workforce
Chloe Tobin, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia / SA Government
Stream 2 – Presentation
MHFA as a part of larger community capacity building in regional and remote communities
Eloise Hull, Healthy Minds NQ
Stream 3 – Presentation
Applying mental health first aid with neurodiverse people
Lee Tucknott, EPX
11:30am – 11:55am
Stream 1 – Presentation
Embedding MHFA into organisational systems, policy and sustained workplace practice
Jasmine El-Nasser, News Corp Australia
Stream 2 – Presentation
Sport MHFA governance framework: Scalable system design embedding MHFA into leadership and organisational structures
Todd Morgan, CEO, Outside the Locker Room
Stream 3 – Panel Discussion
MHFA in practice in health settings
- Alexander Topalian
- Miranda Vanry
- Additional speaker TBA
11:05am – 11:30am
Stream 1 – Presentation
How to strengthen MHFAider impact within highly regulated industries (AFSA)
Kathryn Hampson, Australian Financial Security Authority
Stream 2 – Panel Discussion
A whole-of-community approach to culturally responsive training
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA panellists TBA
Stream 3 – Panel Discussion
From conversation to care – Navigating Australia’s mental health system
- Panellists TBA
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Lunch
Merch store | Lunch | Networking
Steam 1 – Workplace Leadership
Stream 2 – Stronger Communities
Stream 3 – MHFA in Practice
1:30pm – 1:40pm
Introduction to stream
Introduction to stream
Introduction to stream
1:40pm – 2:10pm
Stream 1 – Presentation
Transition from external to internal instructor model supporting longevity in implementation (mining industry)
Adrian Lo Faro, Cadio
Stream 2 – Panel Discussion
MHFA programs in tertiary settings
- Panellists TBA
Stream 3 – TBA
2:10pm – 2:40pm
Stream 1 – Panel Discussion
Creating mentally healthy workplaces for first responders
- Panellists TBA
Stream 2 – Panel Discussion
Supporting youth mental health in community and education settings
- Byron Chen, Salesian College Chadstone
- Andy Mison, Australian Secondary Principals’ Association
- Jen Berthold, Be You/Headspace
- Additional speaker TBA
Stream 3 – Workshop
Sustaining MHFA practice – Confidence, impact and ongoing learning
Speakers TBA
2:45pm – 3:15pm
Afternoon Tea
Merch store | Morning Tea | Networking
3:15pm – 3:20pm
Welcome to the afternoon session
3:20pm – 3:50pm
Panel Discussion
- Panellists TBA
What mentally healthy workplaces have in common
3:50pm – 4:10pm
Keynote
Donal Scanlan, Head of MHFA Ireland
International Perspective of MHFA in Ireland & Europe
4:10pm – 4:20pm
Presentation
Building Momentum with MHFA Champions Hub & World MHFA Day
4:20pm – 4:30pm
Closing Remarks
Please note this program is subject to change.
Day 2 - Instructor Forum
8:00am – 9:00am
Registration opens
9:00am – 9:15am
Welcome to Country
9:15am – 9:30am
Opening remarks
9:30am – 10:00am
Keynote
Donal Scanlan, Head of MHFA Ireland
A global perspective of MHFA Instructor leadership
10:00am-10:30am
Keynote
To be announced
10:30am-11:00am
Morning Tea
Merch store | Morning Tea | Networking
Steam 1 – Workplaces
Stream 2 – Lived Experience
Stream 3 – Communities
11:00am-11:25am
Stream 1 – Presentation
More Than a Mandate: The Mental Health Impact of Where and How We Work
Jenna Wallace
Stream 2 – Presentation
Been There, Done That: Enhancing MHFA Delivery Through Lived Experience & a Sense of Humour
Sophie Hattch
Stream 3 – Presentation
MHFA in Auslan: Why First‑Language Mental Health Training Matters
Kelly Rutter
11:30am-11:55am
Stream 1 – Presentation
Building an MHFAider Ambassador Program in Your Workplace
Mio Ihashi
Stream 2 – Presentation
Teen MHFA – Moving Beyond Education to Empowerment
Cathryn Walder
Stream 3 – Presentation
Session TBA
Speaker TBA
12:00am-12:25pm
Stream 1 – Presentation
Moving MHFA Beyond Compliance
Speaker TBA
Stream 2 – Presentation
Instructor Connection and Collaboration
Germaine Lecei and Cortney Symth
Stream 3 – Presentation
The Results of Teaching Young Rainbow Folk Evidence-Based Mental Health Skills
Nick McEwan-Hall
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Lunch
Merch store | Lunch | Networking
1:30pm – 2:00pm
Keynote
Pip Downes
Beyond the Content: Levelling up your MHFA Facilitation
2:05pm – 3:00pm
Keynote
- Panellists TBA
A First Look at the New Edition and Youth Yarns: What’s Changing, Why, and What’s Next
3:00pm – 3:30pm
Afternoon Tea
Merch store | Afternoon Tea | Networking
3:30pm – 4:00pm
Panel Discussion
- Instructor Reference Group members
Conversation about Delivery, Systems, and the Real Issues on the Ground
4:00pm- 4:50pm
Awards Ceremony
- Ebony Whitehouse, MHFA International
- Donal Scanlan, MHFA Ireland
Celebrating the impact of our National Instructor Community
4:50pm-5:00pm
Closing Remarks
Please note this program is subject to change.
