Human Rights Act NSW Parliamentary Event

Invitation: Human Rights Act for NSW – Parliamentary Event
Protecting Rights. Protecting Mental Health.

Hosted by Wayahead, BEING – Mental Health Consumers, and Mental Health Carers NSW

You are warmly invited to a special event at the NSW Parliament to build momentum for a Human Rights Act for NSW, with a strong focus on such legislation strengthens the causes of mental health challenges.

This event brings together community members, people with lived experience, Members of Parliament, civil society organisations, and legal and mental health leaders. Together, we will shine a light on why NSW needs a modern, fair, and accountable rights framework — and how a Human Rights Act can improve the everyday lives of people with mental health challenges.

Event Details

🗓 Date: Thursday, 12 February 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (registration starts at 12PM with networking to follow at 2PM)
📍 Venue: Theatrette, NSW Parliament House
🌐 Format: Hybrid (in‑person + livestream)
♿ Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, Auslan and live captioning provided

Program Highlights

• Opening Remarks
  Giancarlo de Vera (CEO BEING), Sharon Grocott (CEO Wayahead), Dr Amanda Cohn MLC (Greens NSW spokesperson for health (including Mental Health)
• Welcome to Country
  Cr Yvonne Weldon (Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council) (TBC)
• Address
  Jenny Leong MP — Human Rights Bill 2025 (Greens NSW spokesperson for Human Rights)
• Keynote Speakers
  The Hon. Kevin Bell AO KC, former Victorian Supreme Court Judge & Professor of International Human Rights Law
  Rosemary Kayess, Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Commissioner (Human Rights Lawyer)
• Government Speakers
  The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Mental Health
• Panel Discussion + Q&A
  Panel Moderator: Natasha Robinson, Health Editor (The Australian)
• Panellists:
  • Giancarlo de Vera, CEO, BEING – Mental Health Consumers
  • Sharon Grocott, CEO, Wayahead
  • Jonathan Harms, CEO, Mental Health Carers NSW
  • Jennifer Black, NSW Mental Health Commissioner
• Closing remarks: The Hon Susan Carter MLC, Co-Chair NSW Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health
• Call to Action (Group Photo)
  All attendees — community members, parliamentarians, sector partners — are invited to participate in a group photo holding campaign placards to visually express broad public support for a Human Rights Act for NSW.
• Networking reception in the Foyer

Who Should Attend
This event welcomes a broad, diverse audience, including:

• People with lived and living experience of mental health challenges
• Families, friends, supporters and allies of people with mental health challenges
• Members of the NSW Parliament and parliamentary staff
• Mental health, disability, human rights, and legal sector leaders
• Community organisations, advocates, and service providers
• Media
• Members of the Human Rights for NSW Alliance
• Anyone passionate about fairness, dignity, and human rights

RSVP
Please register your attendance by 10 am on the 10 February 2026

Contact
For questions or accessibility requests, please contact:

Sharon Grocott
Chief Executive Officer, Wayahead
📧sharon.grocott@wayahead.org.au