This report looks at mental health reform in Victoria, illustrating what gender-responsive mental health care looks like in practice and highlights promising practices that can inform system-wide reform. The report explores how gender inequity shapes mental health experiences and outcomes, and why gender-responsive principles must be foundational – not optional – in mental health policy, service design and system reform. 

The report identifies several consistent themes across policy, service delivery and system reform.

Key insights

• Poverty, insecure housing, discrimination and gender-based violence are deeply connected to mental health outcomes. Reform must address these drivers alongside clinical responses.
• Genuine co-design, leadership and evaluation led by people with lived and living experience and expertise is essential.
• Gender-responsive mental health care must respond to intersecting factors such as culture, disability, sexuality, age and migration status.
• Service models that prioritise safety, choice, dignity and autonomy – and that acknowledge the impacts of trauma and violence – lead to better experiences and outcomes.
• Without system-wide change, progress remains fragmented. The report highlights the role of gender impact assessments, leadership accountability and cross-sector collaboration in sustaining reform.

Recommendations

1. Embed intersectional gender-responsive principles across all mental health policies, programs and services.
2. Centre lived and living experience and expertise in co-design, leadership and evaluation.
3. Strengthen and adequately resource community-based, culturally safe and accessible services for priority populations.
4. Address structural drivers of mental ill-health, including poverty, housing insecurity, discrimination and gender-based violence.
5. Advance system-level reform through gender impact assessments, leadership accountability and cross-sector partnerships.