Better Politics Study: Australia
Over the past year, Better Politics Foundation and Demos Australia, in collaboration with Compassion in Politics and Professor Patrick McGorry, have conducted what is now the largest study ever conducted on the experience of being an Australian politician, with a focus on mental wellbeing.
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As of January 2026, more than 270 elected representatives across local, state and federal levels of government have participated in the study.
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This groundbreaking study in Australia follows studies conducted globally in 2023 and in the UK and Irish Parliaments in 2024, featured in these BBC and RTE investigative documentaries:
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The Opportunity
The mental wellbeing of politicians isn’t a private issue — it’s a public one. When leaders are exhausted, threatened or unsupported, decision-making suffers, polarization deepens, and our democracies weaken. We need leaders who are equipped to respond to crises and opportunities with clarity, empathy and courage.
Healthy leaders make for a healthier democracy.
Australia already stands on a strong democratic foundation— ranking 2nd out of 10 countries in the 2025 Better Politics Index. With growing public interest in this work, Australia is uniquely positioned to set a global standard in addressing one of the most defining challenges to democracies around the world. ​
Initial Study Insights
13%
Federal
44%
State
42%
Local
Respondents
Look out for the first of three pre-releases of insights from the Better Politics Study: Australia in February 2026.​​
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This work matters because stronger political wellbeing strengthens our democracy — and it will take many of us to make that possible.
You can contribute by:
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Sharing and amplifying the findings to build momentum and awareness.
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Supporting implementation, from developing resources to piloting solutions.
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Joining cross-sector working groups to turn insights into action.
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Providing funding or in-kind support to scale the impact.
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Champions
The project is gaining continuous momentum, with a rapidly expanding coalition alliance of champions—sitting parliamentarians, government bodies, and leading experts in mental health and wellbeing—all personally invested in amplifying the research and turning its insights into action.
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Partner Organizations
Looking Ahead
Nov 2025 - Mar 2026
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Recruitment and consultations with our Champions and partner organisations.
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Survey data analysis.
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Monday March 2nd - First public release of early data findings.
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Discussions with partners on how to apply survey results to concrete changes in Australian political life.
Mar - Jun 2026
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Develop concrete Action Plan for reform proposals with Champions and partners on Federal, State and Local levels.
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Monday April 20th - Second public release of data findings.
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Late April - Full study launch in Canberra joined by mental wellbeing experts and political leaders across all levels of governance.
Jun - Dec 2026
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In collaboration with State and Local Champions and partners, host Local and State launches including proposals for concrete reforms.
Be part of this groundbreaking work.
It will take a joint effort to make change possible
We'd love to hear from you. You can contact us at:
Kimberly McArthur - kimberly@betterpolitics.foundation
Daniel Tetlow - daniel@betterpolitics.foundation