Highlights from the MHCSA Annual General Meeting
Last week, Skylight Mental Health attended the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia’s Annual General Meeting, a gathering that brought together leaders, lived experience representatives, and sector partners who share a commitment to improving mental health support across the state.
Skylight was represented by CEO Adam Dunkley, joined by Nicole and Francesca from our Carer Services program. The event served as a powerful reminder that while progress has been made, there is still significant work ahead to ensure all South Australians can access the mental health services they need.
Skylight’s New Representation on the MHCSA Board
During the AGM, Adam officially stepped into the role of Skylight’s representative on the MHCSA Board. This follows the dedicated contribution of outgoing board member Paul Creedon, who was acknowledged for his commitment to strengthening the mental health sector and advocating for systemic change.
Paul also reflected on the importance of the upcoming state election and called on the mental health community to continue applying pressure on both state and federal governments for genuine investment and clear, timely action. As Paul highlighted, vulnerable South Australians living with unmet psychosocial needs cannot continue to wait.
Unmet Needs Reports Reveal Significant Gaps
The latest State and National Unmet Needs Reports were a central point of discussion. These reports show that around 19,000 South Australians are currently missing out on psychosocial support. Addressing this shortfall would require an estimated 125 million dollars per year, reflecting more than a decade of underfunding in the sector.
These figures are a sobering reminder of the scale of the challenge and the urgent need for long-term, sustainable funding that allows organisations like Skylight to continue delivering services that support recovery, wellbeing, and community connection.
Celebrating 10 Years of the Lived Experience Workforce Program
A major highlight of the AGM was the celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the Lived Experience Workforce Program. This program has played a key role in strengthening the mental health sector by recognising the value of lived experience and embedding it as an essential part of service delivery.
Skylight is proud to be part of a sector that acknowledges the importance of lived experience perspectives. These voices remain vital in shaping services that are person centred, informed, and responsive to real community needs.
Insights from the ACDC Project in the City of Salisbury
The AGM also showcased the ACDC Project, which has been active across South Australia. In the City of Salisbury, the project used Carer Roundtables to gather meaningful feedback from carers and community members. This work helped identify key drivers of poor mental health and wellbeing in the region and offered valuable insights to help shape future support options.
Projects like ACDC demonstrate the power of listening to the community and ensuring that the voices of people with lived and living experience are central to decision making.
Working Together for Meaningful Change
As the AGM made clear, there is much to advocate for. Yet there is also great strength within our sector. By working together, drawing on lived experience, and continuing to push for investment and meaningful reform, we can help create a future where all South Australians can access the mental health support they deserve.
Looking forward, the AGM highlighted how important it is for organisations like Skylight to remain actively engaged in policy conversations and community consultation. Continued collaboration across the sector will play a vital role in addressing service gaps, strengthening lived experience leadership, and ensuring that people with psychosocial disability receive the support they need to live well. By maintaining strong partnerships and a shared vision for improvement, we can help shape a more connected, well resourced, and person centred mental health system for South Australians.
