CAN (Mental Health) extends its congratulations and best wishes to the new 8 Commissioners for the National Mental Health Commission announced by the Hon. Mark Butler, Minister for Mental Health.  The new 8 Commissioners are:

• Mrs Jackie Crowe
• Mrs Janet Meagher AM
• Professior Ian Webster AO
• Professor Ian Hickie AM
• Ms Robyn Knowles
• Mr Peter Bicknell
• Dr Pat Dudgeon
• Ms Samantha Mostyn

The establishment of Australia's first national mental health commission is cause for celebration.  CAN looks forward to working, where possible, with the new Commissioners to improve the lives of mental health consumers across Australia.  May all consumers in the Australian Mental Health Consumer Movement work with the inaugural Commissioners by putting aside their own specific issues, topics or politics and work for the betterment of consumers as a whole.

By working together we will be able to forge new and exciting pathways that lights the way for consumers of the present and of the future; for mental health services to be delivered in many ways that are sensitive to the individual needs of consumers; and that governments via policies (of a top down and bottom up approach) regain as a core focus and embed a culture of 'genuine care' that is the truest of its meaning.

Congratulations and may you all receive the success that you so richly deserve and the support from all perspectives and all sections of the mental health sectors and the continued support of governments - that are borderless and of all persuasions.