Mental Health Australia wishes to pay our respects for those who’ve served and sacrificed.

We remember all who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

As always, the Members Policy Forum will be held the day after the Grace Groom Memorial Oration at Old Parliament House. The Forum – focused on workforce – will commence at 9.00am and finish at 2.00pm (AEDT). Registrations will open at 8.30am with tea and coffee upon arrival. 

 Note: This event is for Mental Health Australia members only. 

Mental Health Australia has developed a position statement on employment and mental health, in consultation with members and representatives with lived experience. The position statement outlines key actions to improve employment participation and opportunities for people with experience of mental health challenges, and follows Mental Health Australia members highlighting employment as a key social determinant priority. Mental Health Australia will use this statement to inform future advocacy, particularly in relation to the White Paper on Employment.

Join us to hear more about a research piece on Mental Health & Stigma in CALD Communities conducted by Western Sydney University in collaboration with the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project.

The research piece ‘Understanding Mental Health and Stigma in Congolese, Arabic-speaking and Mandarin-speaking Communities’ will be presented by Associate Professor Shameran Slewa-Younan, University of Western Sydney.

The research was funded by by Mental Health Australia Ltd as part of the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project.

Please register by COB Friday 11 November.

If you have any questions, please contact Hannah: hannah.carrigy@mhaustralia.org or 02 6285 3100.

Time - Nov 14, 2022 01:00 PM in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

A unique opportunity exists for an experienced Client Services Executive to join our growing team.

The role encompasses all functions of front of house within an allied health practice setting. We are a small team and the person that we are looking for must present a warm, welcoming, and calm demeanor in all situations, be extremely flexible to changing situations and requirements, and have a can-do attitude.

You must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

A unique opportunity exists for an experienced Client Services Executive to join our growing team.

The role encompasses all functions of front of house within an allied health practice setting. We are a small team and the person that we are looking for must present a warm, welcoming, and calm demeanor in all situations, be extremely flexible to changing situations and requirements, and have a can-do attitude.

You must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

The Gidget Foundation Australia People and Culture Manager will be responsible for leading a team that strives to create a productive, safe, and happy workplace for both employees and the Foundation.

The role is responsible for recruitment, employment policies and procedures, assisting with performance and review requirements, overseeing payroll and recognition programs as well as managing workplace safety initiatives.

The People and Culture Manager will be approachable with the ability to listen carefully and speak with sensitivity and clarity.

The National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) is calling for expressions of interest to join the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Working Groups (the Working Groups).

Members of the Working Groups will assist the NSPO in the development of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (the Strategy) by providing subject matter expertise and advice.

Two Working Groups will be established – the Governance and Social Determinants Working Group as well as the Service Systems Working group.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is proud to be hosting the Mental Health Social Work and Contemporary Practice Symposium online in ten days. AASW CEO, Cindy Smith, said: “the role that social workers play in delivering effective mental health care cannot be understated. For too long now we have seen under-investment in the sector by successive governments, both state and federal. The pressure this is creating on our mental health care networks is, and will, continue to grow. Our priority is to see better access to mental health services in the community, more awareness that social workers provide mental health services and a better understanding of how mental health and social circumstances intersect.”

Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major health, welfare and social issue. It affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds, but mainly women and children. This release brings together a range of sources to report a core set of data in an interactive format, and summarise changes in measures of family, domestic and sexual violence over time. It complements the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia report series.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, says the Commonwealth will extend more than $190 million of funding for two-years for Emergency Relief, Food Relief, and Financial Counselling to meet ongoing demand as a result of recent natural disasters, and to help address continued cost of living pressures. The two-year funding extension through to 30 June 2025 will provide certainty and stability to around 250 individual community organisations and will deliver critical supports to vulnerable people across Australia. This funding continues the $97.5 million per year in base funding for these services.

Youth Minister Dave Kelly today announced that applications were open for a State Government grant program to support the empowerment of LGBTQIA+ young people and improve their mental and physical wellbeing outcomes. The LGBTQIA+ Youth Empowerment Grants program will offer a total of $275,000 in Department of Communities grant funding, and will be administered by the Youth Affairs Council of WA. The program will support initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ young people aged 10-25 years through increased representation, engagement, and participation with decision-making.

The Albanese Labor Government will continue its support for people living with disability in Australia by launching the first major review of the Disability Services Act since 1986. Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth has opened the Act for public consultation to ensure it is fit-for-purpose, modern and best meets the needs of the one in six Australians living with disability. “Comments on the proposed changes are welcome from anyone. First and foremost, this includes people with disability, but also includes family members, carers, advocates, service providers, peak bodies and organisations,” Minister Rishworth said. “This is your opportunity to have your say about how disability and disability services are defined in law. It’s important we look to how we can improve all our systems to make sure all people living with disability, not just those connected to the NDIS, get the right level of support.”

A new report card from the Australian Medical Association has found Australia’s health system and its public hospitals are failing people with poor mental health - a vulnerable and ‘overlooked’ group of patients, who are suffering as a result. The AMA’s Public Hospital Report Card - Mental Health Edition found that due to the hospital logjam, patients with poor mental health often have to wait longer compared to any other patient group presenting to Australia’s emergency departments. The report showed a big drop in the number of available public hospital beds for mental health patients, as increasing numbers of more severely ill patients present to emergency departments after exhausting all avenues for help.

Apprentices are the lifeblood of our Big Build - working hard to deliver the road, rail, schools and hospitals Victorians need. But the sad reality is construction workers have some of the highest rates of suicide, with young tradies more than twice as likely to take their own lives than that of other men. Tradies are also at least six times more likely to die by suicide than as a result of workplace injury. And apprentice tradies are overwhelmingly young men, who are among the at-risk groups least likely to reach out for mental health support when they need it. That’s why a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will invest $4 million to establish a new mental health training program for apprentices of all trades. Making this support freely available through work or training removes some of the barriers for seeking help, and normalises conversations around mental health.

New and expecting families in NSW are being encouraged to reach out to mental health and wellbeing supports this Perinatal Mental Health Week (6 - 12 November). Minister for Women and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said whilst pregnancy and the first year of parenthood can be a wonderful time for many, experiencing depression and anxiety during this period is not uncommon. “We know that 13 per cent of new mothers and up to 1 in 10 new fathers develop depression and anxiety, which is why we are encouraging families to be aware of the signs, and seek help if they are concerned,” Mrs Taylor said. “Welcoming a baby to the family is busy and overwhelming, however, if you’re experiencing long periods of low moods, a persistent feeling of hopelessness or worthlessness, support is available.

Young people in out-of-home care now have access to increased support up until the age of 21 as the NSW Government delivers on its commitment to help young people secure a brighter future. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is investing $100 million over five years to better support vulnerable young people reaching adulthood. “Turning 18 is an incredibly exciting time in any young person’s life. As a government we want all young people to know that they are supported, no matter what their personal circumstances are. For those who’ve been in care as a child, that support will now extend until you are 21,” Mr Perrottet said. “If you stay with your family, the government will lend a hand by paying carers an allowance so the whole family can help you succeed in life. For those who choose to leave that family unit, there’s also financial help available. We know it can be a bumpy ride to living independently but this support offers some reassurance along the way.”

The Greens will move for stronger measures in the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill to protect complainants from costs risks, strengthen reporting and enforcement, and create safe workplaces for everyone. Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women, Larissa Waters, says: “we are pleased to see outstanding Respect@Work report recommendations being implemented, but urge the government to listen to experts and support amendments that will strengthen the Bill and create safe workplaces for all. A positive duty on employers to maintain a safe workplace was at the centre of the Respect@Work report. The adversarial ‘victim complaint’ approach has failed so many people, so putting the onus on employers is a critical step in changing that.”

The Strategy is being developed in partnership with people with lived experience and people who have been directly affected by stigma, along with people with other forms of expertise across the health sector and broader community.

The Commission has established a Steering Committee and series of Technical Advisory Groups to guide the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. The Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Groups are co-chaired by people with lived experience and people with other forms of expertise in the specific settings the strategy aims to change.

The Strategy’s focus and objectives include:

- Reduce self-stigma amongst those who experience mental ill-health and those who support them.
- Reduce public stigma by changing attitudes and behaviours in the general community and amongst identified target audiences.
- Take steps towards eliminating structural stigma and discrimination towards those affected by mental ill-health in identified settings.

Over five engrossing episodes, Mary O’Hagan, Victoria’s inaugural Executive Director of Lived Experience, and Dr Ruth Vine, psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, discuss the effectiveness of the mental health system in responding to mental health pain and distress from their respective – and at times contrasting perspectives.

Tune in to hear them discuss the effectiveness of current risk management approaches to contain psychotic episodes, the value of peer-led services, their respective definitions of what is mental illness, and their shared challenges in finding a balance between the biological, psychological and social approaches to treatment, and so much more.

While they don’t agree on everything, they do agree on the value and importance of conversations like these to help appreciate and learn from each other’s points of view. Visit MHPN Presents, In Conversation With … on MHPN’s website for all the episodes, by clicking on the link below.

Perinatal Mental Health Week 2022 (6-12 November) is a national collaboration of 46 perinatal mental health and early parenting organisations, uniting to share the one message We’re here, We get it!

With a shared message the organisations are working together to create understanding, reduce stigma and provide education and support for expectant and new parents and those that care for them across Australia.

The national launch event was held this Monday 7 November at Parliament House Canberra, hosted by The Hon. Emma McBride, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

The Standards are a significant step in providing safety and quality assurance for consumers, their families and carers who use mental health services, and best practice guidance for community managed service providers. 

The Commission is releasing the Standards following extensive consultation with consumers, families and carers, community managed organisations, peak bodies, healthcare providers, professional bodies, Primary Health Networks and funders.

Join the launch to hear from guest speakers during a 30-minute webcast on how the new Standards will benefit consumers, why mental health community organisations should implement them and next steps for accreditation. 

When:  Wednesday 23 November, 12:00pm–12:30pm AEDT

Expert presenters

David McGrath – Executive Lead, Mental Health Standards, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care 

Carmel Tebbutt – Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Coordinating Council, NSW

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is seeking feedback on the Accreditation scheme for the National Safety and Quality Mental Health (NSQMH) Standards for Community Managed Organisations (CMOs).

The Commission has released a discussion paper to provide information to support stakeholders to participate in this consultation, please find the document attached. This discussion paper provides information on the operation of the Australian Health Services Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme and seeks stakeholders’ views on the accreditation methodology that best suits the CMO sector, within the bounds of that scheme.

The NSQMH Standards for CMOs will be released in November 2022. The NSQMH Standards for CMOs describe a nationally consistent safety and quality framework that all community managed organisations providing mental health services can apply when delivering mental health care. Where implemented, consumers and carers should be able to be confident they are accessing a mental health service that is safe and of high-quality.

CMOs implementing the NSQMH Standards for CMOs will develop their own practice governance frameworks. How this looks will depend on the mental health service’s size, as well as risks and complexities associated with the services it delivers. Implementation requires a whole-of-service approach.

We invite you to provide your feedback via a written submission or participation in a focus group. Please visit the website - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/australian-commiss… to register to attend an information webinar of focus group. 

The consultation period is open now until 11.59pm (AEDT) Friday 9 December 2022.

If you have any questions about the accreditation scheme discussion paper or the consultation process, please contact the mental health team at: mentalhealth@safetyandquality.gov.au

The National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) was established in January 2022.

It aims to build upon the Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Final Advice, capitalising on the remit it provides for reform to ensure that all levels and parts of government commit to, and invest in, actions required to achieve a more holistic approach to suicide prevention.

A key priority that emerged from the Final Advice is for the NSPO to develop a national suicide prevention strategy to form the basis for coordinated action across all governments, portfolios, and communities in order to achieve an Australia in which no person feels driven to take their own life.

Scoping Paper

The scoping paper has been prepared as a starting point for consultation and collaboration on the framing and structure of the Strategy with the aim of inviting broad input as early as possible.

The Strategy content will be developed in collaboration with working and advisory groups, as well as this public consultation process.

Emerging Minds has recently launched Emerging Minds Families – a brand new range of resources for parents and families looking for information and support about infant and child mental health. 

The resources – including videos, factsheets, animations and podcasts – are free and have been developed in collaboration with families, practitioners and researchers. They are designed for practitioners to share and use with the parents and families they work with, or for parents and families to access directly. 

Topics include

- Supporting parents and families living with mental illness 
- Responding to and managing the impact of natural disasters including floods, bushfire and drought  
- Understanding and managing anxiety in children and young people, and 
- Infant mental health and wellbeing. 

Visit the Emerging Minds website to access the resources and subscribe to the Emerging Minds Families newsletter for the latest updates and releases.

Held exclusively online from 14-18 November 2022, PACFA’s Safety Through Diversity Conference will be a ‘collaborative festival of ideas,’ discussing the most important counselling, psychotherapy and Indigenous Healing Practices themes of our time.

On each of the 5 days, a stellar line-up of speakers/ ‘key collaborators’ will spark conversations with attendees around themes of the day:

Day 1, 14 November – Indigenous Healing Practices

Day 2, 15 November – Diversity in Gender, Body, Kinship and Sexuality

Day 3, 16 November – Psychotherapy, Counselling and the Politics of Mental Health

Day 4, 17 November – Research and the future of the profession

Day 5, 18 November – Wrap up – Bringing it all together towards the future

Practising counsellors, psychotherapists and Indigenous Healing Practitioners can accrue up to 6.5 Category A CPD hours per day.

Registration opens 19 October. Visit bit.ly/PACFACONF22 for more information and to sign up for updates.

When Friday 25 November 2022, registration from 8:15am

Where Sydney Masonic Centre, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney

Occupational Therapy Australia is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2022 OT Mental Health Forum 2022.

The forum is an invaluable event for occupational therapists and support workers who work across every area of mental health practice in Australia.

The forum provides the opportunity to come together and exchange ideas, to share practices and challenges, to network and meet new colleagues and to learn from an exciting array of current OT mental health practitioners and researchers.