The diary next week

• On Wednesday I will be in Sydney to speak at the OneDoor Mental Health Symposium on What works in psychosocial services? Evidence-informed and good practice psychosocial services and then meeting with the Department of Health and Aged Care.
• On Thursday I’ll be joining our Embrace Stakeholder Meeting in Melbourne.
• Over the next week I’ll be meeting with Psychology for a Safe Climate, Open Minds and Innowell. 

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No.1) Bill 2024

Mental Health Australia recently made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No.1) Bill 2024. Mental Health Australia supports the Bill, which puts in place the scaffolding to begin implementation of the NDIS Review’s recommendations.

However, Mental Health Australia’s submission also makes recommendations to amend the Bill to ensure the views of key stakeholders are considered in parliamentary deliberation of future legislative instruments foreshadowed by the Bill. The submission also makes recommendations to prevent potential unintended consequences of the proposed changes. This includes clarifying what is and is not considered a NDIS support. It also includes balancing what appears to be overly punitive action for failing to comply with a request for information with provision of assistance to NDIS participants to comply with a such a request.

The submission also suggests a change to the legislation to enable the provision of the needs assessment report to the NDIS participant and or their family, carers or supporters, where this is the participant’s preference, prior to it being submitted to the NDIA. The submission also highlights an opportunity that the Bill presents in paving the way for alternative commissioning to occur.

National Reconciliation Week 

Next Monday, 27 May, marks the start of National Reconciliation Week, 27 May to 3 June.

This year’s theme is Now more than ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will - and must - continue.

In 2023, Mental Health Australia joined the Allies for Uluru in the lead-up to the referendum. Allies for Uluru is a coalition of 300 member organisations from across the country that came together to support the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. 

To continue our support, earlier this month, Mental Health Australia signed Allies for Uluru Statement of Commitment which demonstrates our full and unwavering support for the cores principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.  

During Reconciliation Week, Allies for Uluru is hosting Karen Mundine – CEO of Reconciliation Australia – for an overview of the importance of truth-telling, how Reconciliation Australia is supporting truth-telling processes across the country and how allies can support.

Mental Health Australia encourages members and stakeholders to join this important conversation as we navigate supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, post-referendum.

Allies for Uluru: Continuing Allyship Series Part 3 - Truth Telling 
When: 1pm AEST, Wednesday 29 May 2024

You can register for this webinar here.

I encourage you all to explore events and activities available to you in your state/territory and get involved, share, reflect and act on Now more than ever.

How to get involved:

• Read Reconciliation Australia’s May edition of Reconciliation News – it’s all about Now More Than Ever 
  https://www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw-reconciliation-news-out-now/
  
• Reconciliation Week – Events (filter by State/Territory) https://www.reconciliation.org.au/calendar/photo/
• Reconciliation Australia – Book recommendations https://www.reconciliation.org.au/look-for-a-book-first-nations-fiction-history-and-poetry/
• Download and use these posters, resources, and information for National Reconciliation Week 2024
  • Posters and Resources
  • Translated versions

As Monday 27 May is a public holiday in the ACT to recognise Reconciliation Week, Mental Health Australia’s Canberra office will be closed.

Change to the National Mental Health Commission

The 2024/25 Budget included upcoming changes to the National Mental Health Commission. The Government has advised the National Mental Health Commission and the National Suicide Prevention Office, together referred to as ‘the Commission’, will be reformed. The reform responds to the findings from the independent investigation into the Commission in 2023, which found that the Commission had ‘outgrown its existing systems, practices and capabilities’.

Under the reform, structures will be put in place to safeguard the Commission’s role in promoting transparency and accountability, and monitoring the impact of all governments’ policies and investments. As an interim step, the Commission will transfer into the Department of Health and Aged Care as a non-statutory office on or before 1 October 2024. This will “enable appropriate longer-term function and governance arrangements to be established following consultation with the sector”.

Senate Inquiry Into “Dangerous and Risky” NDIS Cuts and Changes

On Tuesday 21st May 2024, the Australian Senate commenced its inquiry into Labor’s proposed NDIS changes. Senator Steele-John, the Australian Greens spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services, and the only physically disabled person in the Australian Senate, will attend both days of the Senate inquiry.

We’ll never close the gap without appropriate funding for social and emotional wellbeing

Following the delivery of the 2024-25 Budget, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia welcomed funding for trauma-informed and culturally safe mentoring and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engaged in the justice system, as well as funding to continue delivery of targeted and culturally appropriate mental health supports. 

However, Gayaa Dhuwi is again calling for the Federal Government to appropriately fund Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention, as there was no mention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing and mental health programs that exist beyond the health system.

New research provides a snapshot of inequality in Australia

New research from the Productivity Commission has unpacked changes to income and wealth levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The initial pandemic period saw an unprecedented decline in income inequality. The incomes of lower-income households grew rapidly in relative terms in the early stages of the pandemic, due to the massive increase in support payments from the Government,” said Commissioner Catherine de Fontenay.

Support for small businesses to help them thrive

Beyond Blue welcomes renewed Federal Government funding to provide small business owners access to much needed mental health support.

Australians’ access to psychology services under attack

Peak body for psychology the Australian Psychological Society (APS) says Australians’ access to psychology services is under attack with further Budget announcements this week changing the way patients can access a psychologist.

Strengthening financial counselling supports for Australians facing hardship

The Albanese Labor Government is strengthening support for Australians experiencing financial hardship by boosting funding for financial counselling services, including targeted support for communities affected by natural disasters.

Breaking the silence on miscarriage

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, says in an Australian first, the Albanese Labor Government has announced a funding package to help meet the needs of women who have experienced miscarriage.

Patchwork of good initiatives for health, but missed opportunity to lift people out of poverty

Not-for-profit community health service, cohealth, has welcomed the investments in health, mental health and cost of living relief measures contained in the Federal Budget, but says it is disappointed that there has been no increase to paltry JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments to lift people out of poverty. cohealth Chief Executive, Nicole Bartholomeusz, said that the investment in mental health services was particularly encouraging.

New trial should improve mental health care access

A new trial to fund telehealth for psychiatric inpatient consultations should result in better access to psychiatric care for Australian patients. Details released last week, following the Federal Budget have been welcomed by the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA).

Continued investment in youth settlement support welcome news

The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) Australia, the national voice for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, has reviewed the 2024 Australian Federal Budget announced by the Australian Government last Tuesday. 

NSW Government leads the way on social media summit (NSW)

Premier Chris Minns said the NSW Government will host a social media summit to address the increasing harm online platforms are having on children and young people.

Reform underway for mental health legislation (NT)

Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Selena Uibo, says the Territory Labor Government is working to modernise mental health legislation in a way that reflects the needs of Territorians today. Community feedback on the Exposure Draft of the Mental Health Bill will help finalise future legislation to reflect more contemporary principles, objectives and practices.

Call to balance social media impact on young Queenslanders (QLD)

Premier Steven Miles said the mental health and wellbeing of young people is an emerging public health concern. Since the popularity of social media has grown, statistics have shown some worrying outcomes for young people.

Support needed for LGBTQIASB+ community (QLD)

AMA Queensland has called on the State Government to fund a voluntary register to allow bereaved family and friends to notify fatal suicides in the LGBTQIASB+ community. The register is one of a suite of measures to improve health outcomes for the community in the AMA Queensland Budget Submission 2024-25.

Expression of Interest - Sector Advisory Group - National Mental Health Workforce Working Group

Want to be a part of a voice for the sector on workforce issues? Join the Sector Advisory Group and support implementation of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) is seeking to establish a Sector Advisory Group which will support the National Mental Health Workforce Working Group (Working Group). The Working Group is overseeing implementation of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy (Strategy) and includes representatives from the Commonwealth, all states and territories, people with lived and/or living experience of mental ill-health and First Nations representatives.

The Sector Advisory Group will be a mechanism to support input and ideas from a broad range of representatives from across the health and mental health sectors to ensure action under the Strategy is informed by a multidisciplinary and system-level approach to address mental health workforce challenges. The Sector Advisory Group will be similar to a Community of Practice, with sector voices contributing through discussions, reviewing papers, as well as providing feedback and advice on proposals and questions from the Working Group. Meetings will be held virtually throughout the year.

The Department is seeking expressions of interest for those who would like to engage with this work and support implementation of the Strategy – we welcome and encourage all interest from across the sector. If you are interested, you can provide a response to the below and send through to the Department’s Mental Health Workforce Section on: MHWorkforceStrategy@health.gov.au. Please provide your response no later than Monday 4 June 2024.

To express your interest, please complete the following, copy and paste it into an email and send to MHWorkforceStrategy@health.gov.au.

Scope of Practice Review - Consultation closes in 5 days!

Maximise your EOFY budget with Essential Storytelling Training with Batyr

Batyr specialise in empowering young advocates and professionals through storytelling, turning lived experiences into powerful tools for change. With the EOFY approaching, it’s the perfect time to consider utilising your remaining budget to equip your team with essential public speaking and storytelling skills.

Their training offerings include:

1. Being Herd - Lived Experience Storytelling Training (18-30 year olds)
   • Focus: Crafting and sharing mental health journeys.
   • Format: 1 day workshop plus online modules.
   • Outcome: Increased confidence and impact in storytelling.
2. Get Talking! (16 years plus)
   • Focus: Distilling personal experiences into perspectives that can be shared across diverse contexts Sharing personal experiences in diverse contexts.
   • Format: 1 day workshop.
   • Outcome: Enhanced ability to share personal insights and manage boundaries
3. Introduction to Safe Storytelling (All Ages)
   • Focus: Safe communication about mental health.
   • Format: 2-hour online session.
   • Outcome: Improved advocacy and mental health conversation skills.

Contact rob@batyr.com.au to discuss your training needs. See attached PDF for more information.

Butterfly & Instagram launch Enter The Chat campaign

Butterfly has partnered with Instagram to launch ‘Enter The Chat’ - a content series featuring some of Australia’s favourite influencers aiming to encourage people to be more mindful when they’re posting and sharing on social media and to use tools to support their wellbeing online.

NDIS Community Catch Ups with Minister Shorten

The Minister for Social Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, has hosted a series of events in May where he is answering your questions about NDIS reform. The final of these is this Friday.

• Brisbane morning tea: Friday 24 May at 10:45am (AEST)
• Online NDIS Community catch up: Wednesday 5 June at 4:00pm (AEST)
  

Click on the button for further information.

Therapeutic Goods Administration seeking members for Advisory Committees 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking applications from experts in medicine, science and consumer perspectives and issues, to fill upcoming vacancies across seven statutory advisory committees.

Successful applicants will contribute significantly towards the TGA’s regulatory functions by providing independent expert advice on matters across a broad spectrum of issues relating to medicines, medical devices, vaccines, and other products and substances.

The webinar of 1 May 2024 will also be published shortly on the TGA website, where you can hear first-hand from current committee members who provide their insight into these valuable roles and answer questions from the audience. 

Further information about the roles of the committees is available here. 

Applications remain open until 11.30pm, Sunday 26 May 2024. Enquiries can be directed to committee.vacancies@health.gov.au

Mental Health Month Grants are now open

Each year the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia partners with organisations to deliver community grants for Mental Health Month events.

This year thanks to Borderline Personality Disorder Collaborative (BPD Co) and the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHFLHN) they have two rounds of grants: BPD Awareness Week Grants and Rural Grants.

For BPD Awareness Week you can apply for between $500 and $2000 to support promotional activities during the first week of October for BPD Awareness Week (1-7 Oct).

For our Rural Grants we have grants of up to $1,000 to support creative promotional activities throughout rural and regional SA for Mental Health Month (October 2024).

Deadline for both grants are 5pm Monday 27 May.

Draft National Autism Strategy released for Consultation

The Australian Government, alongside the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council and its Working Groups, has developed the draft National Autism Strategy (the Strategy) The draft Strategy has been developed from evidence and what was heard from thousands of Autistic people, their families and carers, and other stakeholders. 

The draft Strategy is a high level, guiding document. It includes a vision, goal, guiding principles, outcome areas and commitments. The final Strategy will be a whole-of-life plan for all Autistic Australians.

While feedback received to date has attempted to be reflected the Australian Austism Alliance and National Autism Strategy Oversight Committee encourage you to provide your further feedback to help shape and refine the final Strategy due for release later in 2024.

Feedback is sought including if you think the draft Strategy covers everything it needs to and do you think it will be effective in improving life outcomes for Autistic Australians. You can give feedback via until 3.00pm (AEDT) on Friday 31 May 2024.

TheMHS Conference in Canberra 2024 - Early bird and Volunteer opportunities

Did you know that TheMHS provides student volunteer opportunities at our events? There are limited student volunteer opportunities available for TheMHS Conference 2024 - Canberra. This is an incredible opportunity for students to complete any course requirements and create valuable connections in the industry.

What: Early bird registration and Volunteer Opportunities to attend TheMHS conference
When: 27 - 30 August 2024
Applications (for both) close: 31 May 2024

Final submissions invited on draft National Guidelines for including mental health and wellbeing in Early Childhood Health Checks

The National Mental Health Commission is leading a project to develop National Guidelines. These will support states and territories to include mental health and wellbeing in early childhood health checks (for children aged 0-5 years). 

Mental health concerns often begin during childhood. We also know that supporting children’s experiences, health, and development in the first 2,000 days of life is critical. 

All states and territories include wellbeing milestones in their early childhood health checks. However, when and how wellbeing is explored varies. Introducing National Guidelines supports national consistency. The National Guidelines aim to help children early, and to allow families to get timely support and advice. 

Over the past year, the Commission has held an extensive consultation process, involving up to 600 people, and now invite feedback on the draft National Guidelines.  

Watch the video for a summary of the process here and go to our Have Your Say page to share your feedback by 2 June 2024.  

Consultation Paper on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2025–26 open for public comment

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has today released its Consultation Paper on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2025–26.

The aim of the public consultation process is to seek feedback on our approach to classification and pricing model development, as well as improvements to data collection and safety and quality measures.

Feedback gathered during the public consultation process will be used to inform the policy decisions in the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2025–26, which underpins the national efficient price (NEP) and national efficient cost (NEC) determinations. These determinations play a crucial role in calculating the Commonwealth funding contribution to Australian public hospitals for the next financial year.

To make a submission, email to submissions.ihacpa@ihacpa.gov.au or post to PO Box 483, Darlinghurst NSW 1300 by Friday 7 June 2024.

Wayahead’s Grant applications and Mental Health Matters Awards nominations are now officially open!

Mental Health Month Grants ranging from $500 to $1000 to support community groups and organisations in implementing projects or events aligned with this year’s theme, “Let’s Talk About It.” These grants aim to facilitate conversations surrounding mental health, ultimately breaking down stigma and empowering individuals to seek help when needed.

The deadline for grant applications is Friday 7 June.

Mental Health Month Grants Link: https://mentalhealthmonth.wayahead.org.au/apply-for-small-grant/

The Mental Health Matters Awards is a significant event that celebrates the outstanding achievements of individuals, groups, and organisations dedicated to enhancing understanding, awareness, service provision, and overall mental health within communities across NSW during the previous year (2023-2024). Through these awards, Wayahead endeavours to acknowledge and honour those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving mental health.

Each category recognises remarkable contributions and endeavours to promote mental health awareness and support across various sectors of society.

The deadline for award nominations is Sunday 7 July.

Mental Health Matters Award Nominations Link: https://mentalhealthmonth.wayahead.org.au/apply-for-an-award/

The Creswick Foundation

The Creswick Foundation supports investigation, research and dissemination of
knowledge and information about the continuum of children and young people’s
mental health and wellbeing up to the age of 18 years.

The Foundation generally provide two to four grants each year of between $10,000 and $40,000 each and operates on the understanding that the following are critical factors
in understanding and supporting children and young people’s mental health and
wellbeing:

• development and learning
• education
• physical health
• family
• community.

To fulfil its aims, the Foundation funds fellowships which are granted to
applicants who have relevant knowledge, expertise and experience in this area.

The closing date for applications for funding is 30 June each year.

2024 Rural Mental Health Conference

Cairns, Qld 6th – 8th November, mark the dates in your calendar now for this year’s Rural Mental Health Conference.

This event is the place to be if you work in mental or allied health within rural and remote communities or with companies that support better mental health outcomes for rural communities.

Use the code: MHA20 via this link: https://anzmh.asn.au/rmhc and gain 20% off your registration.

GPs can now apply for the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential

The Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) has expanded the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential to GPs providing care for people with eating disorders, and applications are now open.

Funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential for GPs aims to further enhance the effectiveness and consistency of care for eating disorders in Australia. The Credential for GPs emphasises early identification and initial response for people with eating disorders, encompassing screening, assessment, diagnosis, and referral to appropriate treatment providers. An additional aim of the Credential is to grow the eating disorder workforce so people experiencing eating disorders can access the right care at the right time.

You can view the GP Information Webinar here.

Applications for the new ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential for GPs are free until 30 June 2024.

Keep the money - it’s yours.

Perinatal Mental Health Week - new dates - now 17-23 November

Due to ministerial availability, Perinatal Mental Health Week team have moved Perinatal Mental Health Week from 10-16 November to 17–23 November.
 
The launch event will be held at Parliament House in Canberra on 
18 November at 11:30am.
 
Please contact the team at hello@pmhweek.org.au should you have any questions.

Evaluating a resource for supporting voice-hearers

The University of Sydney is offering mental health workers who work with people who hear voices the opportunity to use and help evaluate a new resource. The resource has been co-designed by voice hearers and clinical experts. It can be used to support voice hearers using an evidence-based approach and anecdotal evidence suggests that it is both useful and easy to use.

All mental health workers (e.g., clinicians, support workers, peer workers, psychiatrists etc) are invited to participate. The study will take less than 3 hours of your time spread over 8 weeks and you can use the resource afterward if you find it helpful.

The research has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Sydney (Protocol #2023/819).

Please use the link via the button or contact Associate Professor Anne Honey: anne.honey@sydney.edu.au if you would like more information.

Implementation resources for the NSQMHCMO Standards

Are you planning to implement the National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (NSQMHCMO Standards)? Accreditation begins on 1 July 2024.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released a range of practical resources to support CMO service providers, consumers and carers, and accrediting agencies.

Improving emergency department care for suicidal teens and their families

Youth suicide is a growing problem in Australia. There is increasing recognition that brief interventions and strategies may be an important aspect of a comprehensive treatment strategy.

In a joint project between Deakin University and Monash Health, their teams are conducting research to develop a new intervention to support young people who present to the emergency department at risk of suicide and their parents.

One part of the intervention will be a series of text messages to support young people and their parents  in the days and weeks after they are discharged from the ED. To do this, we are seeking input via surveys from:

• Young people currently aged 16-24 who experienced suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide while aged 12-18
• Parents/carers of a teen who experienced suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide
• Clinicians with at least one year experience in working with young people at risk of suicide.

Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in an interview. If you are in one of these groups, or know others in these groups, please complete our survey or advertise to your networks!

Share your news, job vacancies, or upcoming events to more than 5,000 people in the mental health sector each week.

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 Monday for your notice to appear in the newsletter.