TAL and SANE partner to help support Australians with complex mental health conditions

TAL and SANE are expanding their shared mission to reach and help more Australians experiencing mental ill-health, through the implementation of a recovery program for people on claim, and a new partnership to co-fund innovation in digital mental health support services.

The collaboration combines SANE's expertise as a global leader in digital mental health care and its clinical and lived experience insights, with TAL's investment and reach, to deliver innovative health services at scale.

TAL Community Foundation enters 3-year partnership with SANE

The TAL Community Foundation and SANE have entered into a three-year strategic agreement to develop a digital support service to reach vulnerable Australians who have experienced mental health distress.

The program will explore new support avenues for people who have historically slipped through the cracks in the mental health system, including investigating ways to better connect place-based clinical services with digital psychosocial support to ensure a comprehensive continuum of care.

Peer recovery support for members on claim

TAL and SANE have also launched a new peer recovery pilot program, which will initially be available to eligible superannuation fund members on an Income Protection or Total and Permanent Disability claim.

Delivered by SANE and peers with lived experience, the 20-week program is designed for people living with complex mental health conditions to support their return to health. The program provides access to one-to-one support, recovery groups, and connection to a community to build skills that support recovery and improve quality of life.

The program bridges gaps between primary care and recovery-focused peer support services, and is built to be inclusive for diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, veterans, and people with a disability. The University of Melbourne will evaluate the program's impact.

SANE CEO, Rachel Green, said: “SANE is thrilled to have TAL Community Fund’s partnership support to help us take our digital innovations to the next level. We see it as vitally important to partner with organisations like TAL, who have such a huge reach across Australia and the community – and this partnership represents a significant opportunity for us to advocate and bring forward the collective intelligence of our complex mental health community at an even greater scale.”

“We look forward to continuing to work with TAL to amplify the perspectives of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, to achieve more equitable health outcomes and a better-connected mental healthcare experience for people no matter where they live across the country.”

TAL Group CEO and Managing Director, Fiona Macgregor, said: “Our communities are changing and our customers’ needs are evolving, with mental ill-health a growing concern for them. We are collaborating with innovative partners like SANE to support a more integrated and person-centered approach to mental health care. We believe that addressing community mental health requires increased collaboration among participants in the mental health ecosystem. Our partnership with SANE aims to expand timely access to mental health support when and where it is needed.”

Georgina Croft, Chief Claims Officer at TAL, said: “It’s clear that the rising instance of complex mental health conditions is having a profound impact on the people and families we support every day, which is why we're committed to working collaboratively with experts like SANE, alongside our industry partners, to ensure we are there for people in their most vulnerable moments, and support their recovery.”

Mental ill-health has been TAL's leading cause of claims for four consecutive years, with over 11,000 Australians claiming for a mental health condition in 2024-25 alone.

About SANE
SANE is Australia's leading national mental health organisation for people with persistent, recurring or complex mental health issues and trauma. It provides a range of free digital psychosocial services to support them and their families. Led by the voices of its community, SANE drives change to improve the lives of those living with complex mental health issues, and end stigma and discrimination. Find out more at www.sane.org.