Last week I met with the Minister for the NDIS, the Hon Bill Shorten MP to discuss the issues surrounding psychosocial disability and access to the NDIS.

We have advocated extensively over the years for an NDIS that is more responsive to the needs of people with a psychosocial disability with some success but with much more to do.

So, it was refreshing to meet the Minister who was eager to engage, well informed on the issues facing people with a psychosocial disability not only within the NDIS but in the broader eco system and keen to begin the reform process quickly. 

A review of the NDIS is in the planning but we agreed that broader discussions need to be undertaken with relevant Ministers and jurisdictional representatives on improving access to psychosocial supports outside of the NDIS. Watch this space.

The Embrace Project is providing targeted support to ten Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to implement the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia. Support with participating PHNs commenced on 1 April 2022, and will continue for the next six to 12 months. As part of this process, a PHN Community of Practice webinar was held on 10 August 2022. This provided PHNs with the opportunity to share progress updates, key learnings and challenges, and ask questions. There was a great turnout of attendees, which included a range of PHN staff, Embrace Project Alliance representatives and Department of Health staff.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) wants to learn more about the experiences of participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) living with psychosocial disability. The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) is convening workshops on behalf of the NDIA to hear directly from participants how to improve access and planning within the NDIS.

Workshops with a small number of participants will be held for a duration of three hours and a  reimbursement of $50 an hour is available for people’s time. If you or someone you know would like to participate in the workshop and share insights on how to improve access and planning within the NDIS please click on the registration links below.  

• Tuesday 16th August – 1-4pm AEST 
• Wednesday 17th – 9am-12pm AEST 
• Thursday 18th – 1-4pm AEST 
• Friday 19th – 9am-12pm AEST 
• Monday 22nd – 12-3pm AEST 
• Tuesday 23rd – 10am -1pm AEST 
  

For more information, and to register for the workshops please see the event flyer.

Mental Health Australia welcomes the urgent and immediate recommendations in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Interim Report, particularly the focus on improved coordination of support services for veterans and their families.

The reporting of suicide and self-harm statistics and information on the AIHW website represents one part of the National Suicide and Self-harm Monitoring Project. The Suicide and self-harm monitoring website includes interactive data visualisations and geospatial mapping to illustrate and explore the statistics as well as text to assist with their interpretation and clarification of the limitations of the data.

A Senate Select Committee on Work and Care has been established to inquire into the impact that combining work and care responsibilities has on the wellbeing of workers, carers, and those they care for.

Our neighbourhood environment influences our health by supporting or hindering our opportunities to engage in physical activity, access nutritious foods and commute to work. This report explores whether the selected factors in our neighbourhood environment are associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and obesity, physical inactivity, insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption and the daily consumption of sugar sweetened drinks.

People with disability and their carers experienced profound impact and systemic neglect during and after the 2017 Northern Rivers floods, with many still unable to access stable housing, and at relatively high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six months later, finds a University of Sydney study. The cross-sectional survey looked at exposure to risk and experiences of river flooding for people with disability and carers in rural Australia. This is one of the few Australian studies reporting on how people living with disability and carers are affected by disasters. The findings could help inform recovery efforts for the 2022 Eastern Australia floods. 

A Sydney Policy Lab report examines Australia’s performance as a society during the past two-and-a-half years of the COVID-19 pandemic. How well did Australia perform? Can our combined health, economic, social and political response be considered a success or a failure? What comes next?

A once-in-a-decade report from CSIRO identifies seven global megatrends that hold the key to the challenges and opportunities ahead. This report presents an update on CSIRO’s global megatrends out to 2042 with the view to guide long-term strategic and policy directions across government, the not-for-profit sector and the broader Australian community.

As one of Australia’s biggest private funders of youth mental health, Future Generation has unveiled 14 new NFP partners, with a social investment focus on prevention and wellbeing of youth mental health.

The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) questions why NSW’s valuable and highly regarded counselling workforce is not being utilised by the NSW Department of Education to provide badly needed support for flood-affected staff in Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Tweed. ‘There are hundreds of registered counsellors living in those regions and nearby who are ready to provide this support’ said Dr Di Stow, President of PACFA. ‘Instead, the Department of Education Tender documents specified that only psychologists or social workers are to be employed, most likely on a ‘fly-in fly-out’ basis - it defies common sense’. Registered Clinical Counsellors and Psychotherapists have a minimum of a relevant Bachelor or postgraduate qualifications and meet stringent annual registration and professional development requirements.

The Australian Government is proudly supporting engagement with the nation’s young people by providing the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) with $400,000 in funding. AYAC is a national peak advocacy body for young people that aims to ensure their needs are on the national agenda. Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth Dr Anne Aly said AYAC plays a valuable role in facilitating conversations between young people and the Australian Government to ensure the diverse views of young people are heard by government. Our Government is acutely aware of the challenges facing young people and that is why we are wasting no time in tackling these issues together, Minister Aly said. 

Emergency department presentations for young people who have self-harmed or are experiencing suicidal ideation are on the increase and this report outlines better alternatives including safe spaces with youth peer workers or a crisis support team that comes to the young person’s home.
The report, In their words: How to support young people in distress, is based on consultations with 85 young people, 13 youth suicide prevention and mental health organisations, and a review of published research. It reveals that young people in distress need youth-specific alternatives to hospital emergency departments.

NEDC are excited to launch an important new resource, Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline.

The launch will take place on August 19, 2022 at 12:00 PM

Hosted by WAAMH with support from the WA Mental Health Commission and Lotterywest, the conference will be held in-person at Perth’s Optus Stadium and virtually with interactive streaming and online networking on 7-8 November 2022, with the theme, ‘Working together: a shared purpose’.

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s annual Human Rights Awards celebrate outstanding achievements to advance human rights in Australia. They recognise the important work of individuals, communities and organisations from across the country.

Submissions close Sunday 4th September. 

The health and wellbeing of LGBTQAI+ young people will be the focus of a new grants program being funded by the McGowan Government. Youth Minister Dave Kelly today announced that the Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA) would receive funding of $275,000 to deliver a new grants program for the provision of support and inclusion services for LGBTQIA+ young people. Youth service providers and specialist LGBTQAI+ services will be able to apply for grants between $2,000 and $25,000 towards the provision of support and inclusion services for LGBTQIA+ young people, including resources and training for the youth sector.

Black Dog Institute is pleased to announce its Summit on Self-Harm to be held on
Thursday, 10 November 2022 at Doltone House in Sydney.

This full-day event will bring together leading international researchers, clinicians and lived experience experts to provide and share insights about self-harm.

Suicide Prevention Australia’s National Suicide Prevention Conference 2023 will be held over 1 – 4 May in Canberra. This event provides a gateway to unite suicide prevention experts to showcase evidence-based solutions and robust discussion, focused on solutions for saving lives.