TAL partners with Sane Australia to support complex mental health

Mental health conditions continue to be one of the leading causes of claims in group insurance, affecting people’s ability to work, connect and recover. In the last financial year, mental health claims accounted for 27% of claims accepted across TAL’s group insurance portfolio.¹ For individuals on claim, getting the right support early can make a real difference. 

TAL’s partnership with SANE Australia is about improving that experience—providing people with access to tailored, recovery-focused programs that complement clinical care. For super funds and employers, it’s about supporting better outcomes for those they protect and ensuring that insurance delivers lasting value. 

How the partnership supports recovery 

TAL and SANE have expanded their partnership through two initiatives aimed at helping Australians living with complex mental health conditions. 

• Peer support program pilot

  A new 20-week peer support pilot is now available to eligible individuals with an active Income Protection or Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claim through TAL. Delivered by SANE, the program offers one-to-one peer support, recovery groups and community connections. It’s designed to help people build skills that support recovery and improve quality of life.
  
  The program is co-designed with people who have lived experience of mental health challenges and is inclusive of diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, veterans, and people with disabilities. Its outcomes will be independently evaluated by the University of Melbourne to ensure the program is effective. This combination of lived experience and evidence-based evaluation ensures participants receive support that is practical, meaningful, and proven to help them in their recovery.
  
  TAL’s Head of Mental Health, Glenn Baird said, “Recovery is about more than clinical treatment. It’s about connection, hope, and the practical skills to rebuild your life. Peer support guided by people who’ve been through similar experiences can be transformational.” 

• Digital mental health innovation

  Through the TAL Community Foundation, TAL and SANE have begun a three-year agreement to explore a digital aftercare service for people who have experienced mental health distress. This work is in its early stages, focused on understanding how digital psychosocial support might complement clinical care. 
  
  Rachel Green, CEO of SANE Australia, said the partnership creates an opportunity to bring the voices of people with lived experience into future service design and strengthen connections across the mental health system. 

Evidence-based, scalable support  

Complex mental health conditions are among the most challenging in group insurance, often requiring extended recovery periods and coordinated care. Without ongoing, holistic support, individuals can experience setbacks that delay recovery and increase financial strain. 

By partnering with SANE, TAL is bringing evidence-based, scalable support into the insurance process and bridging clinical treatment with community connection. For funds and employers, this means greater confidence that their members and employees are receiving structured, quality support that enhances wellbeing and contributes to sustainable claims outcomes. 

What’s next 

The peer support program began in November and will be offered more broadly over time subject to success. Work on the digital aftercare initiative continues, and we will share updates with partners as the development progresses.  

As insights from both programs emerge, they will help inform future service design supporting TAL’s ongoing focus on recovery, wellbeing and the sustainability of group insurance across the industry. 

Speak with your Partnership Manager to find out more.

¹ TAL Life Insurance Services Limited ABN 31 003 149 157 (TLISL) paid claims on group life insurance policies issued to superannuation fund trustees during the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 (FY 2025). All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. The acceptance of each claim is subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the life insurance policies issued by TAL and TLISL. A claim is 'accepted' when the claim has been assessed and is determined to be payable.