Consumers of Mental Health WA
Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) is a nonprofit, peer-led advocacy organization and Western Australia's peak body for mental health consumers. Founded in 2005, it delivers systemic advocacy, peer support, workforce training, and scholarships, funded primarily by government grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Consumers of Mental Health WA does
Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) is a nonprofit, peer-led consumer advocacy organization incorporated in 2005 and headquartered in Cloverdale, Western Australia. Operating as the state's peak body for mental health consumers and a member of the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance, CoMHWA delivers a portfolio of interconnected services across three pillars: advocacy (systemic and individual, plus the My Voice, My Rights, My Way initiative), peer support (Peer Pathways navigation helpline, Listening Lounge groups, WA Peer Supporters Network, Life Launchpad), and training/workforce development (ASPIRE, Collaborate to Connect, CoMHWA Peer Supervision, Core Training calendar, and Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work scholarships in partnership with North Metro TAFE).
The product surface is human-services oriented rather than technology-based, with no proprietary software, APIs, apps, or digital platforms identified in the source material. Core offerings are operationalized through funded programs, community venue partnerships (e.g., Vincent Community Centre in Leederville), an in-person plus online training calendar, and online resources via the comhwa.org.au website and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube) plus the Moorditj Minds podcast.
The business model is primarily grant-funded. Revenue is derived from government bodies including the WA Mental Health Commission, WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA), and the Department of Social Services, supplemented by a modest membership stream (free lifetime membership for mental health consumers, affordable memberships for organisations) and public donations. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via two Perth-area locations, regional outreach (e.g., PRISAM coordinator, Peers-Helping-Peers grants prioritising regional areas), and digital channels. The organization is governed by a member-elected Board (chaired by Brian Wooller) and operates with a staff team of approximately 14 people under CEO contact via [email protected], with accreditations including ACNC registered charity status, QIP accreditation, and a Reconciliation Action Plan approved by Reconciliation Australia.
Consumers of Mental Health WA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Consumers of Mental Health WA
- Legal name
- Consumers of Mental Health WA
- Website
- https://comhwa.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) is a nonprofit, peer-led advocacy organization and Western Australia's peak body for mental health consumers. Founded in 2005, it delivers systemic advocacy, peer support, workforce training, and scholarships, funded primarily by government grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Consumers of Mental Health WA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro industry
- Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical)Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities
Keywords
Where Consumers of Mental Health WA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Consumers of Mental Health WA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: CoMHWA receives funding from government bodies including the WA Mental Health Commission and WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to deliver programs such as the Peers-Helping-Peers Small Grants Program and peer workforce training initiatives.
- Membership Fees: The organization offers free lifetime membership to mental health consumers and affordable memberships for organisations, providing a small revenue stream while maintaining accessibility.
- Donations: CoMHWA accepts donations from the public to support their advocacy and peer support activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free lifetime membership for mental health consumers |
| Subscription | Annual | Affordable membership for organisations |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Peer Supervision Training |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Consumers of Mental Health WA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) is a consumer-led nonprofit organization that delivers mental health advocacy, peer support, and training programs for people with lived experience of mental health challenges in Western Australia. Core offerings include systemic and individual advocacy, peer support groups (Listening Lounge, Peer Pathways helpline), and peer workforce training (ASPIRE, Peer Supervision, Cert IV Mental Health Peer Work scholarships). The organization operates as WA's mental health consumer peak body, amplifying consumer voices through policy engagement, government consultations, and community-based service delivery.
Product overview
Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) operates as a nonprofit consumer-led organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services focused on mental health advocacy and peer support. The organization provides advocacy services (systemic and individual), peer support programs (including Peer Pathways helpline, Listening Lounge groups, and the WA Peer Supporters Network), and training/education programs (ASPIRE, Collaborate to Connect, Peer Supervision training, and Cert IV Mental Health Peer Work scholarships). The programs work together to amplify consumer voices, deliver positive change, and support people with lived experience of mental health challenges across Western Australia. Publications and submissions round out the offering by informing policy and raising awareness of consumer issues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CoMHWA: Consumers of Mental Health WA - the primary operating name and abbreviation used on the website and in communications.
Products and services
- Peer Pathways A peer support navigation service featuring a helpline that provides guidance and connections to mental health resources for consumers in Western Australia.
- Listening Lounge A free weekly peer mental health support group program operating in multiple locations (Leederville and Cloverdale), providing safe spaces for people with lived experience of mental health challenges.
- ASPIRE Face-to-face training program focusing on foundational knowledge of peer work, interpersonal peer support skills, and employment readiness for people with lived experience.
- Collaborate to Connect A training resource and program designed through co-design with consumers, focused on collaborative approaches to mental health support.
- CoMHWA Peer Supervision Free training program for peer workers focused on discipline-specific peer-to-peer supervision, heavily grounded in social justice principles.
- Cert IV Mental Health Peer Work Scholarships Scholarship program delivered in partnership with WAPSN and North Metro TAFE, offering up to 30 scholarships for the CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work qualification.
- Systemic Advocacy Collective advocacy work representing mental health consumers through campaigns, consultations with politicians, and engagement with government on behalf of the lived experience community.
- Individual Advocacy One-on-one advocacy support for mental health consumers navigating services and systems.
- My Voice, My Rights, My Way A rights-based advocacy initiative empowering consumers to understand and assert their rights within the mental health system.
- Publications, Submissions and Position Papers Documents published by the Systemic Advocacy team addressing key issues of interest to WA's lived experience community, including submissions to stakeholders and briefing papers.
- WA Peer Supporters Network A network connecting peer supporters across Western Australia to share resources and support.
- Community Engagement Activities and initiatives to engage mental health consumers and build community connections, including Aboriginal Lived Experience Advisory Group (ALEAG) initiatives.
- Core Training and Calendar Scheduled training sessions introducing skills to help navigate lived experience and the mental health system, including in-person and online offerings.
- Life Launchpad A program helping individuals with lived experience build skills and confidence through training and group activities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 53 unique participants engaged in Listening Lounge groups with 102 returning attendances in first four months
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Consumers of Mental Health WA
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Consumers of Mental Health WA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Consumers of Mental Health WA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA)coreWAPHA partners with CoMHWA to deliver the Peers-Helping-Peers Small Grants Program, providing grants of $2,000 to $20,000 to strengthen organizational capacity of community-based peer support groups.
- National Mental Health Consumer AlliancecoreCoMHWA is a member of the national alliance of state and territory mental health consumer peak bodies. Together they released Australia's first mental health consumer-led Human Rights Report and advocate for consumer rights at the national level.
- North Metro TAFEcorePartnership with North Metro TAFE Leederville campus to deliver Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work qualification, with scholarships funded by WA Mental Health Commission.
- Western Australian Peer Supporters Network (WAPSN)majorCoMHWA collaborates with WAPSN on peer workforce development initiatives including the WAPSN Conference and Cert IV scholarship programs.
- MIFWAminorMental Illness Fellowship WA operates Hospital 2 Home program that CoMHWA advocates for secure funding for, supporting consumers transitioning from mental health inpatient stays.
- Department of Health WA - Mental Health UnitmajorCoMHWA hosts workshops facilitated by the Department of Health's Mental Health Unit on continuity of care guidelines and works on shared care arrangements.
- Youth Mental Health AdvocacyminorCoMHWA partners with YDAN (Youth Depression and Advocacy Network) on youth mental health surveys and advocacy initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Consumers of Mental Health WA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SANE Australia: SANE is a large national mental health advocacy organization offering peer support, information, and stigma reduction programs. While overlapping with CoMHWA's consumer-advocacy mission, SANE operates nationally and at much greater scale, serving as a broad incumbent rather than a direct state-level peer.
- National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (NMHCA): NMHCA is the national umbrella alliance of which CoMHWA is a member. It coordinates cross-state consumer-led advocacy and co-produced the first Australian consumer-led Human Rights Report with CoMHWA. As the national aggregator, it is comparable but broader in scope than CoMHWA.
Direct peers
- BEING (Mental Health Consumers NSW): BEING is NSW's mental health consumer peak body and fellow National Mental Health Consumer Alliance member. It delivers peer-led advocacy, training, and consumer participation programs analogous to CoMHWA's portfolio, making it a directly comparable state-level peer.
- ACT Mental Health Consumer Network (ACTMHCN): ACTMHCN is the ACT's mental health consumer peak body and fellow National Mental Health Consumer Alliance member. Its scope of consumer advocacy, peer support, and policy engagement directly mirrors CoMHWA's at a smaller jurisdictional scale.
- VMIAC (Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council): VMIAC is Victoria's mental health consumer peak body and a fellow member of the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (visible as a partner on CoMHWA's site). It offers directly comparable consumer-led advocacy, peer support, and policy work, differing only by state jurisdiction.
- LELAN (Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network): LELAN is South Australia's lived-experience leadership and advocacy network and a fellow National Mental Health Consumer Alliance member (visible on CoMHWA's site). It focuses on lived-experience leadership development, paralleling CoMHWA's ASPIRE and peer supervision training offerings.
- Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland: Queensland's mental health lived experience peak body and fellow National Mental Health Consumer Alliance member (shown on CoMHWA's site as MHLEPQ). It provides directly comparable state-level consumer advocacy and peer workforce development.
- Tandem (formerly ARAFMI): Tandem represents families and carers of people with mental health challenges in Victoria, providing peer-led advocacy and support analogous to CoMHWA's consumer-side work. It is comparable as an adjacent lived-experience peak body, with the parallel but distinct focus on families/carers rather than consumers themselves.
- Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia (MIFWA): MIFWA is a WA-based mental health peer support and advocacy organization that shares CoMHWA's mission of supporting people with lived experience of mental health challenges. CoMHWA explicitly partners with MIFWA on advocacy for the Hospital 2 Home program, making them directly comparable peer-led WA organizations.
- Western Australian Peer Supporters Network (WAPSN): WAPSN is a WA-based network connecting peer supporters across the state. CoMHWA co-delivers peer workforce initiatives (Cert IV scholarships, WAPSN Conference) with WAPSN, making it a direct peer in peer-workforce development and support.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Consumers of Mental Health WA social profiles
Digital presenceConsumers of Mental Health WA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Consumers of Mental Health WA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Consumers of Mental Health WA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Consumers of Mental Health WA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Consumers of Mental Health WA
What does Consumers of Mental Health WA do?
Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA) is a consumer-led nonprofit organization that delivers mental health advocacy, peer support, and training programs for people with lived experience of mental health challenges in Western Australia. Core offerings include systemic and individual advocacy, peer support groups (Listening Lounge, Peer Pathways helpline), and peer workforce training (ASPIRE, Peer Supervision, Cert IV Mental Health Peer Work scholarships). The organization operates as WA's mental health consumer peak body, amplifying consumer voices through policy engagement, government consultations, and community-based service delivery.
Is Consumers of Mental Health WA a public or private company?
Consumers of Mental Health WA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Consumers of Mental Health WA founded?
Consumers of Mental Health WA was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Consumers of Mental Health WA based?
Consumers of Mental Health WA is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Consumers of Mental Health WA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are membership Fees and donations.
Who are Consumers of Mental Health WA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SANE Australia and National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (NMHCA). Direct peers are BEING (Mental Health Consumers NSW), ACT Mental Health Consumer Network (ACTMHCN), VMIAC (Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council), LELAN (Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network), Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland, Tandem (formerly ARAFMI), Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia (MIFWA) and Western Australian Peer Supporters Network (WAPSN).
Does Consumers of Mental Health WA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Consumers of Mental Health WA.
What industry is Consumers of Mental Health WA in?
Consumers of Mental Health WA's product category is Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAHAK, Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical), with a secondary code of HSADAJAH, Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities. Its NAICS code is 621330 and its SIC code is 8300.