Julia Gillard to lead mental health agency beyondblue

Former prime minister Julia Gillard will chair the mental health advocacy agency beyondblue, taking over from its founder Jeff Kennett.

The former Victorian premier will step down on June 30 after almost 17 years at the helm but says he expects the organisation will go "from strength to strength" under Ms Gillard.

Ms Gillard says she looks forward to advocating for mental health and honouring her father, who worked for decades as a psychiatric nurse.

As a former prime minister, she expects she will be able to bring added attention to the organisation and advocate in different ways.

"I know that they're big shoes to fill, and I don't think I wear the same size as Jeff, so I'll be doing the job a little bit differently," she said in a video statement today. 

"But beyondblue is such an important organisation to the Australian community that I do feel a special sense of delight at having been selected to lead it."

Mr Kennett, a former Liberal leader, said the appointment of the former Labor leader reinforced beyondblue's "fierce" bipartisanship.

"beyondblue's work is motivated by something bigger than politics; it's about a bipartisan commitment to enhancing the welfare of others and that is an extraordinarily powerful force," he said in a statement.