Congratulations from Mental Health Australia to the award nominees and recipients in the annual Australian of the Year Awards. We welcome Dylan Alcott as the 2022 Australian of the Year and wish him well as he uses this platform to challenge us all to think about and act for inclusion and quality of life for everyone - as he has done for many years.
The lists of Australia Day Honours Awards likewise underline and honour the contribution many make to their communities. I know what receiving such an award has meant to friends over the years and what a public affirmation and tribute it is for their work and contributions. Congratulations to all recipients across the community.
I have been thinking about how to honour everyday heroes, those we know. As the dictionary says – to honour is an ‘observance of respect’.
We are hearing that as we enter year three of the global pandemic, carers continue to carry high levels of concern, especially where there are requirements for families to be in isolation at home. Parents, children and teenagers are negotiating a school environment that has changed in many ways. People living in aged care settings are more disconnected from their families and friends.
We would like to honour, through an observance of respect, those who are in informal support and caring roles, particularly families and communities, noting that the personal impact can itself be challenging.
Anxiety and fear for the future is high and our services are under extreme pressure. We have heard from the mental health community in the last weeks about the exhaustion of frontline workers, high demand in emergency departments and in the community, closed beds in inpatient acute settings, workforce shortages, and stress.
We would like to honour, through an observance of respect, those who are in formal caring roles, health and mental health professionals, noting their resilience and commitment at a time when these are the qualities most drawn upon.
Leadership and leaders are under pressure to manage the challenges the pandemic has thrown us, sustain workplaces and productivity, and forge ahead together in areas that before the pandemic were of real import – and which now are urgent.
We would like to honour, through an observance of respect, consumer and carer leaders, service and support leaders, industry leaders and government leaders across the country, noting the exceptional challenges that come with leading a ‘surge response’ at the same time as seeking to resolve long term reform imperatives.
Personally, there are some people in my own network who make things better for me every day and whom I would like to honour, through an observance of respect. I am sure you have those people too.
Have a good weekend.
Dr Leanne Beagley
CEO
National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum Website and Psychosocial Disability Publication Launch
The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) is a combined national voice for mental health consumers and carers. We listen, learn, influence and advocate in matters of mental health reform.
The NMHCCF is inviting you to its Website and Psychosocial Disability Publication Launch.
This is an opportunity to learn more about the NMHCCF’s work, its new website, and also its collaborative process towards transformational change in Australia’s mental health system.
Hear from NMHCCF members on their reflections of psychosocial disability and reform agendas, and ask your questions to a panel of lived experience experts.
The launch will take place on 21 February 2022, 2pm-3pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (11am AWST, 1.30pm ACDT, 1pm AEST, 12.30pm ACST).
Register in advance for this meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Input sought: Housing and Homelessness Agreement Review
Mental Health Australia invites members input towards a submission regarding the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement. The Productivity Commission is undertaking a review of this agreement, with submissions due 21 February 2022. Further information including an issues paper is available via the Productivity Commission website. Please contact policy@mhaustralia.org to provide input or with any questions.
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On Monday we will be doing a formal induction for our new Board Director Professor Sharon Lawn and later I have my regular meeting with the National Mental Health Commission.
On Tuesday I have a meeting with Aliza Werner-Seidler from the Blackdog Institute.
On Wednesday the Disability Representative Organisations have a Joint NDIS Advocacy and Co-Design meeting and on Thursday I have a meeting with Phil Amos from the national Primary Health Network Cooperative.
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Member Benefits, Jobs and Profiles
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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
Richmond Fellowship ACT
Richmond Fellowship ACT: Provide supported accommodation to those in the community suffering from a mental illness.
Mentally Healthy WA
Mentally Healthy WA is a community-based health promotion campaign that encourages people to take action to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This evidence-based campaign was developed primarily from research undertaken by Curtin University into people’s perceptions of mental health and the behaviours they believed protected and promoted good mental health. Following a successful pilot phase in six regional communities in Western Australian (2005–2007), the campaign was expanded state-wide.
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Embrace Multicultural Mental Health News
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Translated information on testing for COVID-19, and for people who test positive for COVID-19
These fact sheets, developed by the Department of Health, contain important information on the types of tests available in Australia and when to get tested, and information for people who test positive for COVID-19 or are close contacts. There’s also further information for people who contract COVID-19 including guidance on symptoms, when to call an ambulance, and how to isolate.
The fact sheets are available in 63 languages:
Getting tested for COVID-19
Information for people who test positive for COVID-19, or are close contacts
What to expect when you have COVID-19
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University Newcastle PhD student Dr Jayson Jeganathan will investigate the negative symptoms of psychosis after he was awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2021 Postgraduate Scholarship. Impairments in facial expressivity, motivation, and sociality - the ‘negative symptoms’ - are the most debilitating features of psychotic disorders, yet they are inadequately treated. Dr Jeganathan received a two-year scholarship worth nearly $94,000 to use facial emotion detection algorithms, functional brain imaging, and novel approaches including real-time facial feedback and heart rate feedback, to discover the changes in the brain’s emotional circuits that underlie negative symptoms.
To continue its investment into improving the mental health of all Australians, the Morrison Government is investing a further $44 million to increase access and reduce wait times at headspace services for young people aged 12 to 25 years. Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said both mental health and suicide prevention remains one of our Government’s highest priorities. “One in four young Australians are affected by a mental health illness every year and as we continue to battle COVID-19 it’s more important than ever that we prioritise mental health,” Minister Hunt said.
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said a multi-disciplinary mental health team that can rapidly deploy in response to mental-health-specific triple-0 calls has started operation in Southern Tasmania this week. This new mental health co-response team, referred to as the Police, Ambulance and Clinician Early Response (PACER) team, will improve outcomes for mental health patients by enabling access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time, and will reduce avoidable mental health presentations to the Emergency Department. The interagency team, comprised of Mental Health Clinicians, Police Officers, and Paramedics, will attend mental health-specific triple-0 calls, providing a rapid response to mental health crises in the community.
A new service, the ACT Eating Disorders Clinical Hub, has launched so Canberrans can better understand, navigate, and access eating disorder services. The Hub will help people build the skills, information and support needed to manage their eating disorder at home or in the community, before their condition escalates and requires acute inpatient treatment. It strengthens coordination between services to better support people’s needs. Minister for Mental Health Emma Davidson said the Hub will better coordinate and connect people with eating disorders, their carers and families with support services across the Territory.
The Australian Government Department of Health has awarded the University of Sydney a $13 million four-year grant, which will fund the establishment of the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre. InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, a partnership between the University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, will lead a national consortium of partners to develop the Centre and implement the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Strategy. The Centre will coordinate a national approach to eating disorder research and translate findings into practice, with the goal of reducing the burden on Australians living with an eating disorder and their loved ones.
Carers Australia and the National Carer Network are calling on all political parties to commit to addressing the needs of Australia’s 2.65 million carers ahead of the Federal Election in 2022 as outlined in a Federal Election Platform and 2022-23 Budget submission. Carers Australia Acting CEO, Melanie Cantwell said, “Anyone at any time can become a carer - it is rarely a choice. We are seeking a commitment in the election by all parties to lay the foundation to appropriately recognise and value the carers who underpin our health, aged care, disability care and social support systems. These commitments should include economic and financial security, equitable access to respite care, strengthening recognition and accountability within government for carers, and committing to individual advocacy and navigation support for carers.”
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Directing Change Scholarship 2022
Australian Network on Disability and Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) are offering 15 full-fee scholarships to undertake either the Foundations of Directorship program or the Company Directors Course at AICD. Plus, 8 months of mentoring with an Australian business leader to help winners maximise their board career opportunities. Aimed to increase the representation of people with disability on Australian boards, the scholarship will support emerging and experienced leaders with disability.
Join Sir Michael Marmot live in conversation about legal need as a social determinant of health
Health Justice Australia is launching Health Justice Conversations, an online event series bringing together a range of perspectives on the intersections between health and justice. The first conversation will be with Sir Michael Marmot and Prof Sharon Friel about legal need as a social determinant of health at our upcoming Health Justice Conversations event. The Conversation will take place 16 February 2022, 8-9am AEDT. Registration is $80 (or $180 for a three-conversation series ticket). Please note, if you are unwaged or the cost is prohibitive to your attendance of this event, or you need assistance in registering or attending, please contact healthjustice@healthjustice.org.au.
Disability Provider Alert – 20 January 2022
The Department of Health has issued its next COVID-19 vaccination – Disability provider alert 20 January 2022 In this update you will find information regarding booster doses via in-reach and other channels, approval on Pfizer for 5-11 year olds, and information from the NDIA regarding pricing changes. 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.
22nd International Mental Health Conference
With an interactive virtual experience to leave you inspired, informed, and equipped with practical tools and knowledge, the 22nd International Mental Health Conference will be delving into the theme ‘Embracing Change: Next Steps in Delivering Industry Excellence & Integrated Care’. The conference commences Monday 31 January. Register now.
Seeking your positive experiences with surveys from clinicians
Lived Experience Australia (LEA) and the Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network (AMHOCN) are seeking your experiences of mental health clinicians completing surveys with you or someone you support. They are specifically seeking positive experiences from approximately 10 individuals who have had the experience of: Your clinician encouraged you to complete a survey or questionnaire about your mental health (e.g. K10, BASIS-32, MHI-38); Filling out a survey or questionnaire with a has helped you in your recovery; and You have seen changes in your mental health through using the survey or questionnaire. They want to find out what worked well so we can create training to improve how clinicians use the surveys and questionnaires with people who use mental health services via confidential interviews/focus groups in January and February 2022. Participants who are eligible and selected will be paid $200 for their time and contribution. For more information, to register your interest or to discuss contact Darren Jiggins, Project Officer AMHOCN and Deputy Chair Lived Experience Australia via email: djiggins@livedexperienceaustralia.com.au or phone: 0438 691 125
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