Resources on the Voice Referendum

In 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.

Official launch of the Liberals for Yes campaign

The Liberals for Yes campaign officially launched this week. Kate Carnell, National Convenor for Liberals for Yes and a former Chief Minister of the ACT spoke to ABC Radio National about the the importance of supporting the Yes campaign as Australia is less than six months away from voting. Listen to the interview here and have a look at the Liberals for Yes website. 

More resources on how to support the Voice and encourage safe and respectful conversations is available on Mental Health Australia’s website.

Does your mental health organisation have resources about the Voice? Let us know.

$100k funding to crisis centres to support the Hunter Valley community grieving the bus crash tragedy

Crisis support centres will remain open in the NSW Hunter Valley region for the next week as the NSW government says it will contribute $100,000 to a new fund to support the families of the devastating bus crash that killed 10 people on Sunday night. NSW Premier Chris Minns made the announcement when he visited the Hunter Valley. The fund will be co-managed by the state government and Rotary Australia, providing relief to survivors, victims and their immediate families. 

Not Before Time: Lived Experience-Led Justice and Repair Summary Report released 

The Not Before Time: Lived Experience-Led Justice and Repair report was written to advise the Victorian Mental Health Minister on how to formally acknowledge harm in the mental health system. It is the first report of its kind that the project team know of in the world. 

The project team was tasked with advising the Minister for Mental Health on the best options for acknowledging the harm caused by the mental health system to consumers and survivors, and families, carers and supporters. The team set up a Reference Group of 10 consumers, survivors, family members, carers and supporters. Many of these members had connections to other lived experience leaders who have led crucial social justice work. Private consultations with people from LGBTIQ+, First Nations, disability and other communities were held. The team also spoke international experts on human rights, mental health, restorative justice, truth and reconciliation processes and reparations.

Headspace opens in Osborne Park

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, say headspace Osborne Park and the Early Psychosis Youth Service have officially opened in a new purpose-built site today. The service will ensure young people in Perth who are struggling with their mental health can receive local support. $1.4 million in Commonwealth funding assisted in building the new Osborne Park facility. This financial year, the Australian Government is providing $1.8 million for the Osborne Park Early Psychosis Youth Program and more than $280 million nationwide for the headspace program.

Appointment of new Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, says I am pleased to announce that I will be recommending the Governor-General appoint Mr Blair Comley PSM as Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care. Mr Comley has had a distinguished career across the Commonwealth and NSW public sector. Between 2011 and 2013, Mr Comley was Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. He then led the New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet as Secretary between 2014 and 2017. Mr Comley is currently a director and partner at EY Port Jackson Partners. With his strong economic qualifications and proven leadership navigating complex issues, Mr Comley will bring innovation and policy rigour to addressing the challenges and opportunities within our health system.

Recognition of unpaid carers inquiry launched

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has today launched an Inquiry into the recognition of unpaid carers. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said: ‘this inquiry will examine the effectiveness of the Carer Recognition Act 2010 in acknowledging and raising awareness of the important role of unpaid carers in Australian society, and will consider if legislative reform is needed. The Committee wants to hear from individual unpaid carers, carers’ representatives and advocacy organisations so it can make meaningful recommendations to government.’

Additional $28 million funding to support mental health system for Canberrans 

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT Government is committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of Canberrans. Theyare investing in services, outreach programs, preventive mental healthcare and cutting-edge facilities to strengthen the mental healthcare options available in our hospitals, community health centres and in the community.

More homes and support for Victorians with mental illness

More Victorians living with mental illness will have the security and stability of a home thanks to a major housing investment from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Housing Colin Brooks today announced $85 million in grants from the Social Housing Growth Fund to build homes across Victoria designed specifically for Victorians living with mental illness who require ongoing support. The funding is in response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommendation to deliver codesigned homes for Victorians living with mental ill health and in need of ongoing care with accompanying wrap-around health, mental health and wellbeing supports. The Media Release is attached. 

Dedicated emergency mental health hub opens at Monash

The Andrews Labor Government is delivering residents in Melbourne’s southeast better access to urgent mental health treatment with a new mental health alcohol and other drugs (AOD) emergency department hub now open. The new $5.3 million hub is located within Monash Medical Centre’s emergency department - and is part of the Labor Government’s $32 million investment in six hubs across the state, providing specialist and integrated assessment, treatment and post-discharge support. The Hubs are for people aged 16 years and over experiencing co-occurring mental health and AOD issues - with patients assessed and treated by an emergency department mental health team of psychiatrists, mental health nurses and social workers.

Webinar on Suicide-related behaviour among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB people

This free webinar will be held on Monday 3 July 2023 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (AEST).  The Queeroboree webinar series produced by Black Rainbow, in partnership with the Mental Health Professionals’ Network aims to help practitioners better support the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB community. This webinar will explore research, led by Madi Day, on suicide-related behaviour and examine social, cultural, emotional well-being, and protective factors associated with suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB people.

Lived Experience Strategy webinar: Reimagining culture, leadership and workforce

Mind Australia is hosting an online event discussing what we have learnt from championing lived experience at the heart of everything we do. The webinar Reimagining culture, leadership and workforce through lived experience will be held on Tuesday 11 July at 11 am (AEST) via Zoom. The discussion is an opportunity to hear from lived experience leaders about the implementation of Mind’s Lived Experience Strategy, and explore some of the challenges we have faced along the way. The free online event will feature representatives from Mind including CEO Gill Callister, Lived Experience Executive Advisor Dr Louise Byrne, Senior Manager Inclusion and Participation Katie Larsen, and General Manager – South Australia Brett Williams. 

Have your say on the myhealth app 

As the Australian Digital Agency moves into the next phase for the app, the Agency are seeking contributions to help shape my health app’s future enhancements. This is your opportunity as a consumer to provide your feedback and suggestions to improve the myhealth app. The survey is open for 6 weeks.

Call for nominations for the 2023 Australian Mental Health Prize 

The Australian Mental Health Prize is awarded annually to Australians who have made outstanding contributions to either the promotion of mental health, or the prevention or treatment of mental illness. To be shortlisted or win the Prize is a great honour. People are encouraged to nominate someone who has had a positive impact in mental health. Nominations of individuals who were previously nominated, but were not finalists, are welcomed. Nominations are open for the 2023 Australian Mental Health Prize. Nominations will be accepted until Monday 17 July 2023 and the four winners will be announced on the 25 September 2023.

Registrations now open: Equally Well 2023 Symposium 

Register now to attend the Equally Well 2023 Symposium, to be held in Sydney 25-27 July which is the biggest event in Australia that brings together consumers and carers, clinicians, policy makers, service providers and researchers who are working in the area of improving the physical health outcomes of people living with mental illness. This FREE event will bring together some of the latest research and practice from across Australia and internationally and hear stories of success in our collective work to improve the physical health outcomes of people living with mental illness. Visit the Equally Well 2023 Symposium Website to see program highlights in coming weeks around our theme; Becoming an Equally Well Country: Working collaboratively to reduce health inequality.