The National Mental Health Commission (NMHC), the body charged with leading Australia’s mental health and suicide reforms, will be formally investigated over its “dysfunctional culture.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Mark Butler, made the announcement on 10 April 2023 following articles published by The Saturday Paper, based on over 13 hours of interviews, which alleged that bullying and psychological harm were common at the agency under the leadership of CEO, Ms Christine Morgan.
Ms Morgan was named chief executive of NMHC in late 2018, beginning the role in March 2019, and just four months later was appointed the national suicide prevention adviser by then Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
She has taken a temporary leave of absence from the position while the investigation, led by Professor Deb Picone AO, examines “extreme staff turnover, inappropriate travel, fraud and corruption in relation to procurement, and conflicts of interest in making appointments to the commission.”
Key incidents include the Making Connections Tour in 2022, losing nearly half the commission’s staff earlier in April 2023, four more senior staff taking stress leave in 2023, and the awarding of a $535,000 communications contract to a company with connections to Ms Morgan.
“To ensure the Government and the public continue to have confidence in the Commission, I have initiated an independent investigation into the allegations and issues that have been raised in the media,” Minister Butler said, in an official statement released on 18 April 2023.
“This investigation will be independent of the Commission and will… conduct a culture and capability review, to ensure the Commission can provide a safe working environment and has the capability to perform its role.
“The investigation will also conduct a full functional and efficiency review to ensure the Commission can be financially sustainable moving forward.”
Mr Butler has appointed, Dr Ruth Vine, the current Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health and Aged Care, as interim CEO and noted that Department’s secretary, Dr Brendan Murphy, had facilitated a “preliminary fact-finding” investigation in October 2022.
“As Minister I take allegations of this nature seriously and will prioritise ensuring a safe working environment for staff,” Mr Butler said.
The Commission is also set to front the Federal Circuit Court in May, over claims by a former staff member that they were fired while taking stress related sick leave after raising concerns about “financial irregularities.”
The latest media release by the NMHC, on 28 March 2023, made no mention of any of the issues currently impacting the workforce.