GO8476: National expansion of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) Program

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to support the national expansion of the existing Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) program, which helps primary schools recognise and respond to student mental health and wellbeing needs.

This grant will not fund delivery of the existing MHiPS program.

The grant will support two key components: Establishment of a national coordination office to guide consistent but flexible implementation of MHiPS across jurisdictions.

Development of a tailored, place-based strategy for regional, rural and remote schools to test models suited to communities with fewer services and higher needs.

This includes scoping and design work for national scale-up, engagement with state and territory governments to support readiness for potential statewide rollout, and work with jurisdictions to identify local needs while maintaining national consistency.

It also includes accessible resources, tailored implementation proposals, partnership building across sectors, and sharing lessons from jurisdictions already piloting or delivering MHiPS.

The place-based strategy will include community-led co-design with First Nations communities, CALD communities and local stakeholders, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, experts and community members to ensure inclusive and culturally safe approaches.

The grant will also support data collection, evaluation and reporting, including an interim report to the department by the end of August 2027.

The objectives are to support jurisdictional readiness, strengthen coordination and capability, and generate national evidence to inform future policy and investment.

In the short term, jurisdictions will be better prepared to implement MHiPS.

Over time, MHiPS will be adapted for place-based contexts and implemented with greater consistency and quality.

To view the grant opportunity documents, please select the red "Grant Opportunity Documents" button on the left-hand side.

Applicants must be the listed eligible organisation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute (ABN 21 0065 669 72), and must have received an invitation to apply from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Consortium applications are permitted if Murdoch Children's Research Institute is the eligible lead organisation, solely accountable to the Commonwealth, submits the application, and enters into the grant agreement.

The applicant must declare compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, Multicultural Access and Equity Policy, and Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023.

Relevant personnel working on the activity must have and maintain Working with Children checks and Working with Vulnerable People checks, or state/territory equivalents.

Grant activities must be delivered nationally.