The Change Makers
It’s National Volunteer Week, a time to celebrate and acknowledge the invaluable contributions that volunteers make to our communities.
This year’s theme, “The Change Makers” encapsulates what volunteering is all about. Volunteers make huge contributions to improve our sector and our society.
Many of Mental Health Australia’s member organisations rely on the dedication and commitment of volunteers to carry out their vital work. These volunteers contribute their time, skills, and compassion to support people facing mental health challenges, provide resources and education, and promote awareness and understanding.
Volunteering Australia estimates that there are over 5 million formal volunteers in Australia – people who volunteer for an organisation or group. That’s about a quarter of the over-15 population. Another 6.5 million participate in informal volunteering – things like providing emotional support, providing transport, running errands, domestic work, home maintenance, or gardening. This includes the work of the 2.7 million unpaid carers that contribute over $1 billion per week in care and support for people with a disability, mental illness, chronic or terminal physical illness. All these efforts contribute an immense amount to our economy and build a culture of connection and care.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit volunteering hard. As the Conversation reported on Wednesday, “by June 2021, volunteer numbers in Australia had fallen by 37% from the start of the pandemic”.
As the Conversation article says, “…some 83% of organisations reported they need more volunteers…”. This decline is concerning as formal volunteering underpins essential services such as emergency work and social care and support. Sporting and cultural events also rely on regular, volunteer-provided services. All these activities – through participation and connection – support our mental health.
Engaging in volunteer work provides a sense of purpose, as it contributes our time and skills to causes that are meaningful to us. At the same time, it fosters social connections with like-minded fellow volunteers and the beneficiaries of our work, and we gain experience and skills. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of that sense of belonging, of playing a role in your community, and of being among friends.
National Volunteer Week 2023 presents an opportunity to extend our gratitude and recognition to the people who play a pivotal role in supporting the wellbeing of others. Thank you to those volunteers working to improve the mental health of Australians.
Harry Lovelock
Acting CEO, Mental Health Australia
The diary next week - On Monday I’ll be attending an Embrace Suicide Prevention Pilot meeting and have a meeting with IPSOS regarding Mental Health Australia’s 2023 Report to the Nation.
- On Tuesday I am attending the First Roundtable Discussion: Recommendations to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
- On Wednesday I have a meeting hosted by the Energy Charter about their Concessions Campaign
- On Thursday I’m attending a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Data Governance Forum.
- On Friday I’m attending a MAGNET Scientific Meeting.
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Resources on the Voice ReferendumIn April 2023, the Mental Health Australia Board Directors agreed unanimously to Mental Health Australia’s public support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. The Board noted the unequivocal links between identity, recognition and genuine engagement in policy development, and social and emotional wellbeing.
Together, Yes Join a small group discussion to engage in an honest reckoning of the harm and injustice of our colonial past; Australia’s history of constitutional indifference; and how a Voice to parliament can make a difference.
Does your mental health organisation have resources about the Voice? Let us know. |
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Send us your news, events, and job vacancies
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Communicate your news, job vacancies, or upcoming events to more than 5,000 people in the mental health ecosystem weekly. Mental Health Australia members are invited to send us news, announcements, job vacancies, events or other notices for inclusion in the Weekly CEO Update newsletter. To do so, simply fill out this form by COB each Thursday for your notice to appear in the newsletter. |
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Beyond BlueBeyond Blue is a national, independent and bipartisan not-for-profit organisation. Our vision is for all people in Australia to achieve their best possible mental health. We work to create change to protect everyone’s mental health and improve the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by depression, anxiety and suicide. |
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Brisbane North PHNBrisbane North PHN: Our vision is a community where good health is available for everyone. We work with others to create and deliver the best possible health and community care system for the people of our region. We are one of 31 Primary Health Networks across Australia. We support clinicians and communities in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, Moreton Bay Regional Council and parts of Somerset Regional Council. Our region covers approximately 4100 km2 of urban, regional and rural areas, with a population of over one million. Our key objectives are to: * increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients—particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes * improve coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. |
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The 2023 Barbara Hocking Memorial AwardsR U OK? would like to congratulate the 2023 Barbara Hocking Memorial Award winners. All the nominees have encouraged people to meaningfully connect, have R U OK? conversations and lend support to the people in their word who may be struggling with life’s ups and downs. The 2023 winners are: Workplace: Rozelle Interchange Project (CPB Contractors John Holland) Education: Allendale East Area School Community: Nigel Gould Conversation Leader: James Maskey - Mental Health Advocate & Endurance Athlete Young Conversation Leader: Kohbi Barrow |
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Schizophrenia Awareness WeekMental Illness Fellowship Australia (MIFA) National CEO, Tony Stevenson, says it is deeply alarming that a massive 154,000 Australians who have a severe and complex mental illness are basically getting no support. He says statistically, it is enough people to fill 388 standard jumbo jets. MIFA has been coordinating a major alliance of over 40 organisations, spread across the mental health sector, advocating for governments to end the neglect. Tony Stevenson says the neglect is a human rights issue and says many governments continue to aimlessly kick the can down the road when it comes to funding new investments to support people. He says the current situation is totally unacceptable. Schizophrenia Awareness Week runs 21-27 May. |
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Increased mental health support for refugee survivors of torture and trauma The Albanese Labor Government is providing $136.0 million over four years, and $36.0 million ongoing, for torture and trauma services to help support refugees with their psychological issues arising from their often traumatic experiences before arriving in Australia. The internationally recognised Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) provides tailored counselling, advocacy and referrals to health and other services, education and training of health and service providers, and regional and remote outreach services. This funding includes resources to help specialist services deliver culturally appropriate care, activities to build the trauma informed workforce, and continued support for community engagement. |
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SA Greens call for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to be included in public health systemGreens MLC Tammy Franks said the Greens will today co-host a forum calling on the State Government to make Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) available to all South Australians by including it in the public health system. MPs from all parties across the Parliament will be in attendance. The Greens motion will go to a vote on May 31 prior to the State Budget. The forum will hear from Dr Patrick Clarke, Director of the TMS Ramsay Clinic, who will be joined by SA’s Chief Psychiatrist Dr John Brayley and TMS recipient Sam Diprose. TMS is a form of neurostimulation, which unlike other forms does not require the person undergoing treatment to be put under general anesthesia or be an in-patient throughout the treatment. Unlike Electroconvulsive Therapy, TMS can be done with minimal disruptions to the daily lives of patients and can be effective for major depression. |
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Mental health bed waiting times blow out, againData from the Victorian Agency for Health Information (VAHI) shows that the Andrews Labor Government continues to fail to meet their 80% target of admission within the clinically recommended eight-hour timeframe. |
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Scholarships to grow mental health peer workforceA new scholarship program will support Canberrans with lived mental health experience to undertake nationally recognised vocational training in mental health peer work. The Mental Health Peer Work Scholarship Program is now taking applications from people with lived mental health experience and is open until 23 June 2023. Successful applicants will receive up to $5,000 in funding to complete a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work. Six scholarships are available for studying commencing in 2023. Minister for Mental Health Emma Davidson said the program is part of the ACT Government’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting the mental health workforce in the ACT. |
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Mental health care for homelessness program extendedThe Andrews Labor Government is supporting for some of our most vulnerable Victorians experiencing homelessness ensuring they have access to integrated supports and access to the mental health care they need. Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams announced close to $10 million to support four organisations over the next four years through the Labor Government’s Social Inclusion Mental Health Support Services program. The four organisations receiving the funding boost are St Mary’s House of Welcome, Uniting Vic.Tas, Jesuit Social Services Connexions, cohealth in partnership with the Inner West Area Mental Health Service and Launch Housing. |
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Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
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CARE Expos Melbourne Brisbane SydneyAustralian Events has added Sydney to their stable of CARE Expos joining our Brisbane event (now in its sixth year) and the Melbourne CARE Expo, which is returning to the Melbourne Showgrounds for its second year. Visit the CARE Expos website if you want to secure a site at one of the three. |
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Suicide Awareness BallThe Suicide Awareness Ball is a fundraising event aimed at raising awareness and funds to support OzHelp’s mission to prevent suicide in the workplace and beyond. The evening promises to be a wonderful celebration, with live entertainment, a three-course dinner, raffle, and live and silent auctions featuring exclusive items generously donated by local businesses. Saturday 3 June, 6:00pm – 11:30pm at the Great Hall, Parliament House. |
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The R U OK? Conversation Convoy has hit the road The R U OK? Conversation Convoy is currently travelling to regional and rural communities around the country to help Australians understand the important role they can play in looking out for their friends, family and colleagues. You can find more information about the Convoy at ruok.org.au, including a schedule of public events and resources to help support local communities. |
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National Equally Well Symposium 2023 - BursariesA limited number of bursaries to assist people with lived experience of mental illness (consumer or carer) to attend the symposium at University of Technology Sydney 25-27 July. |
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Registration is still open for The Exercise For Cognitive Health (EXCEL) StudyIn case you missed it – registration is still open for the next instalment of Ready, Set, Translate: The ALIVE Mental Health Research Virtual Café Translation Conversations, on Thursday 25 May, 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEST. The conversation will be hosted by Stream B Work in Priority Populations Program, and will feature Nicola Lautenschlager and Kathryn Ellis speaking on the topic The Exercise For Cognitive Health (EXCEL) Study. |
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R U OK? for Young Trainees and ApprenticesR U OK? has launched, ‘Be a mate, it’s worth it’, a new campaign for trainees and apprentices. We’re calling on them to be a mate, because when we’re going through tough times, it’s our mates who are best placed to understand and lend support. The FREE resources encourage trainees and apprentices to regularly check in with each other and pay attention to life events and any signs that might indicate a mate is struggling. |
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