Mental Health Commission
The Mental Health Commission (Commission) is a government department that reports to the Minister for Mental Health and Preventative Health.
It is led by a Commissioner and supported by the following Divisions:
- Office of the Commissioner
- System Development
- Commissioning and Programs
- Governance and Corporate Services.
The Commission provides support to three independent bodies - the Mental Health Advocacy Service, the Mental Health Tribunal and the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist. They operate independently but are provided with corporate services support by the Commission.
Our Minister
Hon Meredith Hammat BA MIR MLA
Meredith Hammat is the Minister for Health; Mental Health; Preventative Health, and the Member for Girrawheen.
Meredith was elected to the Parliament of Western Australia in 2021.
She was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests in 2022. In 2023, she was additionally made the Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport and Tourism.
Prior to entering Parliament, Meredith spent more than 20 years advocating for working people in various roles in the union movement including serving as President and later Secretary of UnionsWA between 2008 and 2020.
She has held a number of positions on Boards and Government advisory committees, including the State Training Board, My Leave (the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Fund), the Sustainable Health Review and Triathlon WA.
Meredith has a Bachelor degree and a Masters degree from the University of WA.
She grew up on a farm in the Great Southern region of WA and now lives in Perth with her husband, two adult sons and their schnauzer named Zoey.
Senior Executive Group
The Senior Executive Group (SEG) is responsible for the overall performance and compliance of the Commission and ensuring the delivery of consumer-focused mental health and alcohol and other drugs outcomes.
 | Maureen Lewis Maureen Lewis was appointed Commissioner of the Commission on 1 July 2023. Maureen Lewis is an experienced senior executive and accomplished leader, with a proven track record in driving strategy and reform within the mental health sector. Maureen has an extensive background working in the mental health and drug and alcohol sector across mental health commissions, clinical services, policy, reform, strategy, planning and regulatory functions. She has experience leading and driving strategy and reform in complex service delivery environments in Western Australia, New South Wales and across the Commonwealth. Throughout her career, Maureen has worked in significant leadership roles, making a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community to empower individuals and families to lead fulfilling lives. Maureen is uniquely placed to lead the necessary reforms of Western Australia’s mental health and alcohol and other drugs systems, informed by her grassroots clinical experience, intimate understanding of the community we serve and extensive leadership experience across Australia. |
 | Monica Taylor Monica Taylor is the Deputy Commissioner Commissioning and Programs at the Commission, having previously held the inaugural role of Executive Director Mental Health Nursing where she focused on our workforce to lead the development of the WA Mental Health Nurse Capability Framework. As Deputy Commissioner Commissioning and Programs, Monica oversees our Treatment Services including Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Support Services, Community Services and Service Development teams. Monica is an experienced executive, who has held a variety of leadership roles over the past 15 years, and has been a mental health nurse for more than 30 years. She has a history of working in the hospital and health care industry within the Western Australian health sector and is skilled in health care management, organisational development and patient safety. Monica brings a skill set in clinical governance and has applied this as an Australian Council of HealthCare Standards assessor for over 10 years. |
 | Julia Knapton Julia Knapton joined the Commission in July 2023 and in the four years prior, she held the position of Executive Director Healthway, leading its strategic grant making related to health promotion projects, partnerships and research. Julia has a long history working within the mental health and alcohol and other drug sectors and has previously worked at the Commission as Director Planning, Policy and Strategy and acting Assistant Commissioner between 2015 and 2019. During this time, she was responsible for mental health and alcohol and other drug strategy and services development, legislative services as well as consumer engagement. Julia now oversees the Commission’s system wide policy and strategy including legislation; intergovernmental relations and governance; stakeholder and lived experience engagement; |
 | Matthew Richardson Matthew joined the Commission in June 2024, having previously worked in Senior Executive and leadership roles across multiple State Government agencies, including the Departments of Communities; Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Treasury; and the Premier and Cabinet. Through a variety of policy, analysis, and finance and corporate roles, Matthew’s career focus has been on systemic reform and continuous improvement, seeking to drive better outcomes and more efficient processes for the delivery of services to West Australians, primarily in health and social services portfolios. While at Treasury, and as the Finance and Business Services Director for the Disability Services Commission, Matthew played key roles in the initial design and implementation of, and the intergovernmental negotiations for, the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Matthew is also an Associate member of CPA Australia. |
Page last updated6 August 2026
