Joint submission to the Australian Government Treasury for the Measuring What Matters second consultation process, May 2023

Abstract

In April 2023, the Australian Government invited a second round of feedback on the Treasury’s Measuring What Matters Statement; Australia’s first national framework on wellbeing. Recognising that traditional economic indicators provide important insights, but not a complete picture or holistic view of the community’s wellbeing, the Statement sought to define a suite of social and environmental indicators.

Treasury set out several key questions and invited organisations and individuals to conduct their own consultation guided by these questions. The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use recognised the need to 1) ensure mental health is considered as paramount in any conceptualisation of wellbeing, and 2) centre both academic evidence and the voices of young people. As such, two consultation sessions were held; firstly with Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank, which is chaired by The Matilda Centre’s Professor Maree Teesson; and secondly with the PREMISE Centre of Research Excellence in Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use Youth Advisory Board and The Matilda Centre Youth Mental Health Advisory Team.

Chaired by Distinguished Professor Maree Teesson AC, Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank includes mental health experts from around Australia: Mr John Brogden AM, Professor Philip Batterham, Professor Alison Calear, Professor Tom Calma AO, Scientia Professor Helen Christensen AO, Professor Patricia Dudgeon AM, Professor Ian Hickie AM, Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin, Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Professor John McGrath, Professor Marc Stears, and Professor Harvey Whiteford.

Eight diverse young people aged 16-25 were involved in the second submission and were reimbursed for their participation.

The findings from these consultations and resulting submissions are contained in this document.

In July 2023, Treasury released the final Measuring What Matters Framework. Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank, The Matilda Centre and PREMISE look forward to hearing more about the implementation of this framework and tracking of the 50 chosen indicators.