Mental Health Matters: Progress, Pressure Points and Possibility in South Australia

Taimi Allan is the Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia, widely respected for her compassionate, future-focused leadership and her deep commitment to inclusion, lived experience, and meaningful systems change. Her work is grounded in her own recovery from complex mental health challenges — including suicidality — and a strong belief in the power of hope, dignity, and collective action.

Taimi brings over 20 years of cross-sector leadership across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, spanning lived experience advocacy, system strategy, policy reform, digital innovation, and suicide prevention. She has led national anti-discrimination initiatives, directed a Mental Health Innovations company, and co-designed practical tools and models of care that are inclusive, community-driven, and recovery-oriented.

SA’s mental health landscape is shifting — but not always fast enough. In this regional check-in, Commissioner Taimi Allan offers an honest overview of state-level progress, persistent challenges, and emerging opportunities for change. From suicide prevention to workforce wellbeing, digital supports to discrimination reduction, this session is about staying informed and staying connected — so that together, we can keep people at the centre of everything we do.

Join Taimi to discuss the progress, pressure points and possibilities for regional South Australia.

We acknowledge the support of the Mount Gambier & District Suicide Prevention Network in facilitating the Commissioner’s participation in the public lecture series.