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Shaping the Future of Mental Health – Arafmi at
TheMHS Forum 2025

Arafmi was proud to be a gold sponsor at the TheMHS Forum 2025 in Brisbane (2–5 September), where sector leaders, carers and advocates came together to imagine a better mental health system. A big thank you to TheMHS Learning Network for creating such an inspiring space.

Envisioning a Better Future

This year’s theme, “Envisioning 2050: Towards a Better Mental Health System,” painted a bold vision of what mental health could look like in the future including:

  • early intervention is routine and universally accessible
  • support is holistic, skilled, culturally aligned, respectful and kind
  • support from those with lived experience is valued and common
  • short-term respite is available and hospitalisation is rare
  • lived experience informs policy and shapes system culture
  • mental ill-health is no longer a barrier to health, citizenship or employment
  • everyone has a home, meaningful work, loving relationships and strong social connections.


The Forum asked us to consider: What will the world be like in 2050? What steps must we take now to move towards this vision of an ideal mental health system?

These ideas came to life through networking, presentations and panel discussions where delegates shared insights, challenged assumptions and explored bold steps to turn vision into action. Arafmi was proud to contribute to these conversations:

  • Sue Goodwin (Policy & Advocacy) presented on partnering with families and carers during service transitions
  • Farina Zahir (Policy & Advocacy) connected with sector partners to strengthen advocacy
  • Cheryl and Holly (Carer Support Team) ran our stall, sharing Arafmi supports and resources
  • Irene and Alex (Leadership Team) chaired and joined key sector discussions.


Highlights also included a keynote from Rebecca Huntley, sparking fresh thinking on the future of care, and powerful lived experience shared by young carer advocates Luke Randall & John Attard. We also connected with leaders including Kerry Hawkins (Community Mental Health Australia), Karen Conlon (Queensland Mental Health Commission), De Backman-Hoyle (Mental Health Carers NSW) and Katie Shields (Communify Queensland).

TheMHS Forum reminded us of what’s possible when carers, services, advocates and leaders come together to share ideas and drive change.

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Shaping the Future of Mental Health – Arafmi at TheMHS Forum 2025

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