CEO Update from Mental Health Australia: Guest Blog - Embarking on an era of Co-design, Co-production, advice, support and collaboration

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10 October, we asked Keir Saltmarsh, Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum, to write a guest blog from a lived experience perspective. Thank you to Keir and all the members of NMHCCF for their continued drive and passion to provide a national voice to create a system that is truly person-led.

In my 21 years as a lived experience workforce member, I have never been more hopeful for the future of our mental health system. Never been more excited as we enter an era of unprecedented reform following years of review and reports.

Hopefully, Victoria’s Royal Commission recommendations will flow in a variety of ways to other state and territory jurisdictions. Every interaction with governments, every consultation, every piece of advocacy by us, not only needs to be appreciated, it needs to be celebrated by us all. 

Of course, there is much more work to be done, however, it seems a different kind of work is now with us. We herald an era of Co-design, Co-production, advice, support and collaboration.

Speaking from a Victorian standpoint, and as a result of our Royal Commission, we are about to see a Lived Experience Executive Director, as part of the Lived Experience Branch within the Department of Mental Health and Wellbeing. A staggering remuneration package will be afforded a Lived Experience Worker, who will take on the role of a Senior Executive, Service 2 at $257,112 - $370,331 per annum. To coin a popular phrase, the Victorian Government has put “its money where its mouth is.” I don’t wish to be curt, rather garner an understanding as to the impact this position will have across the Victorian mental health sector and no doubt nationally.

For a moment, we may celebrate and realise the implications of this position in the Victorian Government, for a lived experience worker to report to and work closely with the Deputy Secretary of the Department. 
A new portal is created for solutions, reflections, suggestions, ways forward, new thinking, co-design and co-production. 

Leadership from the consumer and carer lived experience workforce and National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum members may now take a different course. Relationship building and networks are at the forefront. Positive solutions are the new ‘norm’ and the age of struggling to be heard may very well be behind us. 

I was reminded recently of how much still needs to be done with a consumer friend of mine who recently called his mental health service to confirm an appointment only for the call to ring out twice. The call was finally answered on the third attempt. No recorded message, no hold music, just a stark ringing that fell silent twice. 

The metaphor of this example is: we need to answer the call for improvement, from the local service community level reform through to systemic national, state and territory system architecture reform.

In recognition of all the consumers and carers that have gone before us, we have a responsibility to not only honour all of their work, but foster a new way of working together that yields results not ever seen before. 

To use a typically ‘Aussie’ saying, “hop to it” for our time to shine is nigh.

Keir Saltmarsh

Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum


Submission to consultation on NDIS legislation changes

This week Mental Health Australia provided feedback to the Australian Government regarding proposed changes to NDIS legislation. The full submission is available here. Thank you to members who provided feedback to inform this submission.

Overall, Mental Health Australia views the proposed changes as positive reform, implementing key recommendations from the sector and past inquiries. However, Mental Health Australia has concerns regarding how some of the additional powers granted to the NDIA may be implemented, and has called for clarifications and amendments to protect participant choice and control. Mental Health Australia has also urged the Government to work with the mental health sector to establish agreed guidelines for interpretation of the new legislation regarding psychosocial disability, to ensure implementation is in line with the intention to improve access. Mental Health Australia has offered to work with the Government in facilitating this


 

Image of a person, bird, and flower superimposed over the shape outline of Australia.

World Mental Health Day - Sunday 10 October 
 

Happiness on the horizon: mental health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals revealed

New research from Mental Health Australia has revealed how healthcare professionals have been faring on the frontline, and how support from family and friends remains crucial to their wellbeing. According to the research results, 74% of healthcare professionals said restrictions resulting from COVID-19 outbreaks have had a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Of the respondents, 86% said that working in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the amount of stress and pressure they experience in the workplace. However, the majority (58%) said they were feeling more positive about the future and felt they were better able to cope now, compared to working under pandemic conditions last year. Read more.

Daily ideas for looking after your mental health this October

Mental Health Australia has launched its October 2021 calendars for Mental Health Month ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, including daily ideas for all Australians to look after their mental health in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. Mental Health Australia’s downloadable and printable calendars are tailored with some great tips for different audiences, including the general public, young adults, families, older Australians, and workplaces. Download the calendars here.


NEXT WEEK

On Sunday I will be celebrating WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY with you all #LookAfterYourMentalHealthAustralia.

On Monday we are welcoming Kerrie Jordan to our team as the Manager Lived Experience Programs and I also have a National Digital Health Strategy Meeting.

On Tuesday we have been invited to give evidence to the Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS - Inquiry into the NDIS Workforce.

On Wednesday we have our regular meeting with Mark Roddam and the team at the Department of Health and later in the day, we are meeting with the team from “Hand N Hand Peer Support” programs.

On Thursday I am presenting a paper at the TheMHS Conference on Mental Health Australia’s work on the Advice to Governments on the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement and later there is a Board Finance Audit and Risk Management meeting and a meeting with member, the Victorian MH peak MHV

On Friday we have meeting with the Digital Health Agency and later a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities COVID-19 Health Advisory Group meeting 

 

Member Benefits, Jobs and Profiles

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 Wednesday for your notice to appear in the newsletter the following Friday.


Member Profiles

On The Line
On the Line is a professional social health business that provides counselling support, anywhere and anytime. They are experts in men’s mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), healthy relationships, integrated wellbeing, mental health, chronic health conditions, problematic drug and alcohol abuse and, suicide and trauma-informed practice for anyone affected by suicide. 


Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA)
CoMHWA is Western Australia’s peak body by, and for, people with a lived experience of mental health distress. Our core purpose is to strengthen and advance the voice, leadership and expertise of people with a lived experience of mental health issues and/or distress. We educate and raise awareness on consumer rights, promote peer support and the peer workforce, lead change with consumers and promote and support recovery and wellbeing with and for consumers.  

 

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health News

Workshops and Information Sessions for community groups and leaders

The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service working in partnership with UNSW is delivering a 2 hour training session for community leaders, community workers, and faith representatives working with CALD communities to promote uptake of vaccination, counter misinformation and address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. To book a session contact: your local Multicultural Health Unit or the NSW Refugee Health Service.

Contact the NSW Refugee Health Service to request an in-language information session on COVID-19 vaccinations to communities with a refugee background. Contact RHS for details.

Western Sydney Local Health District has developed a 1-hour COVID-19 vaccine information session for CALD communities living in Western Sydney. Bilingual trainers can deliver it in Arabic, Dari, Dinka, Punjabi, Urdu. Contact Daniel.Apat@health.nsw.gov.au

RHS’ Assyrian Vaccination Helpline

RHS is trialling a helpline to assist Assyrian-speakers with questions they have about the COVID-19 vaccine and assist them book a vaccination appointment. Call 0459 884 573 during business hours.  Those who want to make a booking themselves can also use Vaccine Eligibility Checker which is available in Assyrian and Arabic (as well as other languages).

Embrace Australia logo (a rectangle with a light and dark purple cultural stripe pattern with "embrace" and stylised outline of the Australian continent in the lower right corner).

 

Mental Health News

headspace’s call for immediate action to safeguard mental health

To mark headspace Day 2021, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation has launched new research that finds more than half of young Australians deal with personal problems on their own, rather than speak to someone (53%). These worrying findings have sparked an urgent call from headspace for all young people to take small, everyday steps that support their mental health and wellbeing. 

Read more


Threats to mental health and workplace violence among OHS risks faced by frontline workers

ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O’Brien said a new survey conducted for the ACTU shows that mental health continues to be the fastest growing challenge to the safety of working people in their workplaces, as well as appalling rates of workplace violence experienced by frontline workers who continue to protect the community from the pandemic. 17 per cent of workers say they have experienced mental health injuries as a result of their work, with 10 per cent saying they were regularly bullied. 

Read more


Mental health support for Victoria’s Afghan community

To help support Victoria’s Afghan community as the crisis in Afghanistan continues, the Victorian Government is boosting resources to ensure they can access culturally safe mental health services. Minister for Mental Health James Merlino today announced the Government will provide $1 million to Foundation House, a specialist service that supports individuals and families from refugee backgrounds who have experienced traumatic events. 

Read more


State-wide mental health support for secondary schools

Every government secondary student in Victoria can now access vital mental health support at school with the rollout of mental health practitioners to every Victorian government secondary and specialist school now complete. Minister for Education James Merlino announced the rollout of the $51.2 million Mental Health Practitioners initiative will be finalised by Term Four - a year earlier than originally committed to, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read more


More mental health nurses to help Victorians in need 

The Victorian Government is making sure all Victorians experiencing mental health concerns can get the specialised support they need with a boost to upskill and expand the state’s mental health nursing workforce. Minister for Mental Health James Merlino has announced a $23.6 million mental health nursing workforce package - supporting Victoria’s dedicated mental health nurses by investing in more graduate positions and upskilling nurses with a new postgraduate mental health scholarship program. 

Read more

 

Reminders 

National Carers Week

National Carers Week runs from October 10–16. It is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work of Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid carers. Learn more about National Carers Week here.

#ReclaimingOurRights

Throughout October, BEING - Mental Health Consumers will be amplifying the voice of lived experience and tackle some important discussions around mental health and human rights. BEING - Mental Health Consumers will be hosting a series of free webinars every Thursday in October featuring an exciting panel of guest speakers. During each webinar they’ll be exploring the theme of “Reclaiming Our Rights”, with panellists discussing the many and varied ways we can advocate for change. View the program and register here. To ensure the voices of people who live with mental health issues are heard, they encourage you to help spread the word about their #ReclaimingOurRights campaign this month using the hashtag, following them on Facebook or Twitter, and sharing their social media tiles.

8th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium #8RRHSS

Virtual registrations are now open for the 8th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium on 6-7 October. The full digital program retains the more than 60 research presentations, poster sessions and engagement with high-quality keynote speakers. The theme of the virtual symposium is ‘Connecting research, practice and communities’ – bringing together rural health academics, clinical researchers and practitioners, students, as well as policymakers engaged with the Alliance and the rural health sector. The Alliance hosts the Symposium in conjunction with the Australian Rural Health Education Network, the Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators and the Lowitja Institute.

What are Recovery Colleges? webinar

Mind is running a one-hour webinar on 28 October at 12-1pm AEDT which you’re invited to join to understand more about Recovery Colleges as an essential part of the mental health system. Register here.

Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces

The Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces aims to define a vision of mentally healthy workplaces that can be shared by all organisations and businesses across Australia. This Blueprint is a living document that will be refined over time. The National Mental Health Commission is seeking feedback from a wide range of organisations, businesses, unions, government agencies, professional associations, service providers and the mental health and workplace health sectors to shape the Blueprint.

Australian Institute of Family Studies 2022 Conference 

The Australian Institute of Family Studies 2022 Conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 15 – 17 June 2022. Call for abstract submissions are now open for presentations, roundtable sessions or symposia on a diverse range of issues affecting family wellbeing such as: Family relationships; Parenting, child development and caring; Families and financial circumstances; Family law; Challenges for families. Submissions close Thursday, 14 October 2021. A full list of plenary speakers is available, and sponsorship packages to engage with audiences are also available through the AIFS Conference website.
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Alert - 5 October 2021

The Department of Health has issued its next COVID-19 vaccination – Disability Provider Alert 5 October 2021In this update you will find details about recent updates to the Vaccine Clinic Finder and links to new online information that has been updated to be more user friendly and easier to navigate. This provider alert along with other resources and information about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is available from a dedicated web page for disability service providers on the Department of Health website.

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