Better Politics Study Australia 2026
The Better Politics Study: Australia 2026 is the largest study ever conducted on the mental health and wellbeing of politicians in Australia. 289 elected representatives across local, state and federal government took part, sharing their experiences of what political life really does to the people in it.
The study was carried out by the Better Politics Foundation and Demos Australia, in partnership with Compassion in Politics Australia and Professor Patrick McGorry​. It builds on the Better Politics Mere Mortals study (2023) and subsequent surveys in the UK and Ireland, which led to investigative documentaries on the BBC and RTÉ:​
13%
Federal
44%
State
42%
Local
Respondents
📰In the news
Mental health in political life vital to democracy
By Ruth Forrest, Legislative Council of Tasmania
Building civility and reason in politics
By Dr David Meacheam, Tasmanian Councillor
Three Tasmanian MPs share their experiences with mental health and politics
By State political reporter Lucy MacDonald
What's Happening Next
The data is now being analyzed with Demos AU, the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) and Orygen, with a full report to follow later this year.
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Findings are being released in stages; early insights were shared in March 2026, with further releases in the coming months.​
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16 Champions — a cross-party coalition of elected representatives and experts spanning federal, state and local government — are backing this work, helping shape reform proposals and already driving change within their own jurisdictions. You can see who they are below.​
The Opportunity
The mental health of politicians is not just a private matter — it is a public concern. When leaders are exhausted, threatened or unsupported, decision-making suffers, polarization deepens, and public trust erodes.
Healthy leaders make for a healthier democracy.
Australia ranks 2nd in the 2025 Better Politics Index, which compares political health across 10 established democracies. With growing public interest in this issue, Australia is uniquely positioned to lead globally on one of the most overlooked challenges facing democratic systems today. ​
Get Involved
Be part of this groundbreaking work.
It will take a joint effort to make change possible.
Here's how you can get involved:
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Share the findings: Help them reach the people and institutions that need to see them.
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Support implementation: From developing resources to piloting new approaches.
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Join a working group: Cross-sector groups are forming to turn findings into concrete reforms.
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Fund or sponsor: Financial or in-kind support will help scale the impact.
We'd love to hear from you, contact us:
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Kimberly McArthur - kimberly@betterpolitics.foundation
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Daniel Tetlow - daniel@betterpolitics.foundation
Champions
The project is gaining continuous momentum, with a rapidly expanding coalition of champions — sitting parliamentarians, former politicians, and leading experts in mental health and wellbeing — all personally invested in turning the study's findings into action.
Allegra Spender MP
Member for Wentworth, House of Representatives
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"Integrity and good governance protects communities from poor leadership."
Cr Connie Boglis OAM
Councillor, Victoria
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"Effective governance is driven by good faith actions and focusing on advancing community interests, without sacrificing our values."
Cr Dr David Meacham
Councillor, Tasmania
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Helen Haines MP
Member for Indi, House of Representatives
Koby Shetty MP
Member for Balmain, NSW Legislative Assembly
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"Strong leadership is built on mental conditioning and integrity. When your actions align with your values, clarity happens."
Lisa Munday MLA
MLA Member for Dawesville, Legislative Assembly for Western Australia. B.Sc (Paramedicine); B.Psych (Hons.)
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"Mental health is as important as physical health. Know yourself so that you can help others."
Maria Vamvakinou
Former Member of House of Representatives
Professor Patrick McGorry OAM
Orygen, University of Melbourne
"Leaders who prioritize their own wellbeing make clearer decisions, respond to challenges with clarity and good judgment, and govern with genuine empathy."
Ruth Forrest MLC
Deputy President, Legislative Council of Tasmania
"I worked as a FIFO sparky before entering Parliament. Same person, different uniform. It's important to remember we're real people behind every public role. "
Stuart Aubrey MLA
Member for Scarborough, Western Australia Legislative Assembly
"Such differing perceptions across my two professions: respected as a Paramedic, and then so often dehumanized as a politician. And yet it's the same me! "
Jess Smith
Deputy Mayor and Paramedic, Mandurah, Western Australia
Amber Kearns
Mayor of the City of Mandurah, Western Australia
Hon. Jacquie Petrusma MP
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Parliament of Tasmania
Michelle Cowan
Councillor for Wodonga, State of Victoria
Jade Benham MP
Member for Mildura, Legislative Assembly for Victoria
Partner Organizations
Looking Ahead
Nov 2025 - Mar 2026
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Recruitment and consultations with our Champions and partner organizations.
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Survey data analysis.
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1 March 2026 - Survey closes.
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16 March 2026 - 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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April 2026 - Second public release of data findings.
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Date TBC - 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.