Mental Health Victoria

Phillipa Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Victoria, the state’s independent peak body for mental health, where she leads the organisation’s policy agenda, sector coordination, and advocacy on behalf of Victoria’s mental health system.

Phillipa is an experienced mental health clinician with postgraduate training in adolescent and developmental mental health and extensive practice across emergency mental health, crisis and disaster response, and trauma and grief. Her Master’s research examined the intersection of mental health and the law, and she has subsequently led and contributed to research and system inquiries focused on Emergency Department presentations linked to homelessness, acute suicidality, psychiatric intensive care, and sexual safety within bed-based services.

Prior to joining Mental Health Victoria, Phillipa served as an Executive Director in the Victorian Department of Health, where she was responsible for major mental health and drug law reform initiatives, system design, and implementation.