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Speaking frankly...A lesson in grace, warmth and courtesy from our Indigenous eldersEarlier this week, I happened to be listening to Sydney radio during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The event was only minutes old when listeners began calling the station to complain about the prominence of Indigenous culture in the event. “Too much focus on Indigenous people!” “Too much politically correct rubbish!” “What percentage of the Australian population is Indigenous compared to how much they are part of this ceremony?” asked the station’s presenter. Building on this sentiment, an Australian Senator (non Indigenous) announced the next day “I have got nothing against the Aboriginal people but I’m sick and tired of being made to feel as if I’m a second-class citizen in my own country.” Even if we recognise that these views do not represent the majority, the mere fact that they play out so conspicuously in our public discourse is, in itself, enough to further vilify a group of people who have been systematically dispossessed since European arrival, yet who none the less cling to their cultural heritage and remain prepared to bring it to so many of our public celebrations with such enthusiasm. Fast forward then to later in the week. Some of us at Mental Health Australia shared a particular delight in seeing Vernon, one of the Yolgnu men who welcomed us to East Arnhem Land for the Garma Festival last year, dance to greet Prince Charles upon his visit to the remote community. According to the ABC “in a traditional ceremony at Mt Nhulun, a sacred site of great significance to the Yolngu people, Prince Charles was officially welcomed by the traditional owners and Aboriginal elders of north-east Arnhem Land. On arrival, His Royal Highness was met by senior Aboriginal leaders and presented with a traditional headdress and a woven dilly bag. The dilly bag plays an important part in a Yolngu story about where the name "Nhulunbuy" came from. Dancers wearing traditional dress and ochre paint then surrounded Prince Charles on a bush track at Mt Nhulun and escorted him in a procession to a clearing where the rest of the ceremony took place.” The Prince was given a message stick and asked to take it to the Australian Government. It indicated that the Yolgnu Nations had never ceded sovereignty of their lands, and asked that they now be recognised. It seemed striking to me, that in the red dust of East Arnhem Land, people dispossessed of their lands and waters greeted one of the symbols of that dispossession with grace, warmth and courtesy. While further south, our media was filled with bitterness and resentment as Indigenous culture was showcased, albeit briefly, on the world stage. And why is this important to mental health? Firstly, we will not advance social and emotional wellbeing in Indigenous communities without addressing the legacy of historic injustices and acknowledging the disparaging attitudes that, today, remain so ingrained and widely accepted. Secondly, our whole community suffers from the bitterness and division that is sown by so few, but features so prominently. All these years on, it seems we still have much to learn in the way of respect and humility from the ancient Indigenous cultures of Australia’s first peoples. Warm regards.
National Disability Insurance Scheme psychosocial pathway workshop in TownsvilleCEO update readers will know that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has engaged Mental Health Australia to hold consultation workshops on the design of a tailored National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) pathway for people with psychosocial disability. The pathway refers to the experience participants have from their first interaction to their ongoing engagement with the NDIS. Mental Health Australia has already held consultations on this issue in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and we are pleased to be holding an additional workshop in Townsville on Friday, 20 April 2018. The workshops have focussed on the experience of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability and their carers and families. Service providers and peak bodies are also encouraged to RSVP, however please note that every attempt is being made to privilege the voice of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability and their carers and families through this process. Workshop details RSVP: Please RSVP via email to jeremy.colebrook@ndis.gov.au with the following:
The NDIA will contact the potential workshop participant to advise whether a place has been secured. |
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Mental Health Australia Member Profiles
NewsMore funding for Men’s Sheds across Australia The Australian Government is providing funding to 90 Men’s Sheds across the country to support the mental health and overall wellbeing of Australian men. Men’s Sheds will receive grants totalling $395,000 under round 16 of the National Shed Development Programme to help them buy tools, maintain sheds and host community activities focused on men’s health issues.
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee is conducting an inquiry into the accessibility and quality of mental health services in rural and remote Australia. "Australians struggling with mental ill-health already have the odds stacked against them finding access to mental health services," said Committee Chair, Senator Rachel Siewert. "This is only exacerbated in the bush, with regional and remote Australians, particularly our first peoples and our farmers, struggling with high rates of mental ill health and suicide." Hundreds of scholarships to improve community mental health care Frontline staff caring for people in the community who live with severe mental illness will receive specialised training to improve the care experience for consumers and their families. Minister for Mental Health, Tanya Davies, announced the NSW Government will invest $800,000 over the next two years in a new scholarship program for staff who work for non-government organisations (NGOs). "Our NGO networks play a crucial part in helping people who live with mental illness experience a better quality of life by offering specialised assistance," Mrs Davies said. "Expanding the availability of community-based supports is part of the NSW Government's commitment to our 10 year reform of mental health care, and a skilled workforce is essential to delivering this." |
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RemindersExpanding access to Accredited Practising Dietitians at the heart of the Dietitians Association of Australia’s pre-budget submission In the lead-up to the 2018-19 Federal Budget, the Dietitians Association of Australia is calling on the Government to invest in a healthier population by expanding access to Accredited Practising Dietitians under Medicare.
DAA’s Senior Policy Officer Annette Byron said improving access to Accredited Practising Dietitians would mean better health across the population, especially among those Australians living with mental illness or affected by a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer.
Recognising signs of deterioration in a person’s mental stateThe Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is releasing the report Recognising Signs of Deterioration in a Person’s Mental State. During national consultation for the National Consensus Statement: Essential elements for recognising and responding to deterioration in a person’s mental state, the Commission identified the need to develop consensus on a set of signs that can be used for monitoring deterioration in a person’s mental state. Share your thoughts on the Integrated Carer Support Service Regional Delivery ModelThe Australian Government is committed to supporting and sustaining the vital work of unpaid carers. On 5 March 2018, the Australian Government announced additional funding of $85.6 million over four years for the introduction of new services for carers. The new services form part of the Integrated Carer Support Service (ICSS). The introduction of the ICSS is the third and final stage of the Government’s 2015-16 Budget commitment to develop an Integrated Plan for Carer Support Services (the Plan). The Department is seeking feedback from the sector, particularly from service providers delivering carer services, on the proposed RDP model. Project Air Strategy for Personality DisordersProject Air Strategy for Personality Disorders in conjunction with the New South Wales branch of the Australian BPD Foundation, Mental Health Carers NSW, and Being | Mental Health and Wellbeing Consumer Advisory Group will be holding a Consumer and Carer Day on 1 November 2018, as a preconference event to the 12th International Treatment of Personality Disorders Conference.
Call for presentations: Submit to us your expression of interest to present at the Consumer and Carer Day - send a title and short description by 1 August to: info-projectair@uow.edu.au. Organisers welcome lived experience stories from consumers, carers, family members, and also any interesting projects, studies or services relevant to lived experience, co-designed services, peer support and person-centred care.
Senate committee to probe mental health conditionsOn the motion of Senator Urquhart (Tasmania) the following matter was referred to the Australian Senate Education and Employment References Committee on the 27 March 2018: The role of Commonwealth, state and territory Governments in addressing the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers. (p 44 Hansard https://bit.ly/2GJFaip ) The Committee is now accepting submissions which close on 20 June 2018. Terms of reference: https://bit.ly/2GMOeqQ The Committee membership: https://bit.ly/2JvExer TheMHS Awards Submission Closing Date Extended to 18 AprilIf you or someone you know is doing great work in mental health, submissions for the 2018 TheMHS Awards are NOW OPEN. There are 16 different TheMHS Awards which celebrate achievements in mental health across four main areas: Everyone is eligible, no matter how big or small their endeavour. SANE's Topic Tuesday next week – 17 April from 7pmNSW Corporate Games have partnered with One Door Mental Health as the Official Games Charity!The NSW Corporate Games is now in its 26th year. The Corporate Games engages companies to support their employees’ health and wellbeing by participating in a multi-sport championship promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. Over 3,000 people from 150 different organisations represent their company in 14 sports over 3 consecutive days and 11 different venues.
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