Strengthening Australia's Perinatal Mental Health System: Priorities from a Cross-Sector Stakeholder Workshop

Perinatal mental health is a significant public health and gender equity issue with lasting impacts on women, parents, single parents, birthing people, infants and gender diverse families. Participants highlighted that inequities in diagnosis and management of perinatal mental health are shaped by intersecting social, cultural, economic and structural factors rather than individual circumstances alone. In February 2026, forty-nine representatives from government, healthcare, community organisations, research institutions and lived-experience communities came together to identify challenges, opportunities and priorities for action in perinatal mental health. A clear message emerged: many of the barriers affecting outcomes are structural rather than individual. Participants identified a fragmented system that is difficult to navigate, persistent inequities in access and outcomes, and a need for stronger collaboration, data and system leadership. Three priorities for action were identified: Research: strengthen implementation, evaluation and equity-focused research. Practice: improve integrated, person-centred and culturally safe models of care. Policy: support coordinated reform through shared accountability, improved disaggregated data and investment in prevention and early intervention. These priorities provide a foundation for collective action to strengthen Victoria’s perinatal mental health system and improve outcomes for all families.