Mental Health Australia has provided a submission to the Australian Government’s review of the National School Chaplaincy Program. In the submission Mental Health Australia recommended that the Australian Government should remove reference to chaplains in the name of the program to acknowledge a more secular approach to supporting student wellbeing and to create universal access; enable schools to engage secular wellbeing support officers; investigate whether the current minimum qualification requirements act to unintentionally exclude mental health professionals with other relevant qualifications to undertake a wellbeing support officer role; wellbeing support provided through schools should be openly supportive of and safe for members of the LGBTIQ+ community; encourage participating schools to adopt the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and young people wellbeing in schools should be designed and implemented by Aboriginal and Torres Islander people; and should scope the cost of implementing a national, comprehensive, secular school wellbeing program.

Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams says the Andrews Labor Government is giving women in Melbourne’s western suburbs access to the mental health support they need, with the North-West Women’s Prevention and Recovery Care centre (WPARC) now open.

The Andrews Labor Government is building a mental health workforce that provides culturally safe and inclusive care by supporting traineeships and scholarships for Aboriginal people who want to work in the sector.

The Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will inquire into the capability and culture of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Committee Chair Libby Coker MP said today. The inquiry into the NDIA is in addition to the committee’s ongoing responsibility to inquire into the implementation, performance, governance, administration and expenditure of the NDIS, Ms Coker said. The committee has recently called for submissions from the community in relation to both inquiries. We look forward to receiving the community’s contributions. Members understand that the testimony of people with lived experience is crucial to identifying and improving the operation of the scheme and the NDIA.

The Department of Health has issued its next COVID-19 vaccination – Disability provider alert 13 September 2022. 

In this update you will find important information including:

·          TGA’s provisional registration for the Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine

·          COVID-19 fourth doses via the Commonwealth Vaccination In-Reach Program

·          Vaccination for children aged 6 months to under 5 years

·          Changes to COVID-19 isolation requirements 

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.

ReachOut is conducting a survey of young people to better understand how the issues that concern them are impacting on their mental health and wellbeing. We are excited to be running this study to elevate the voices of young people regarding their experiences of day-to-day challenges and how these might impact their mental health and wellbeing. We will also be exploring how young people would like to be supported when things get tough. We believe this research will help ReachOut and the broader mental health sector to better understand the challenges facing young people and what supports they need. 

Relationships Australia is excited to announce a new PhD scholarship opportunity in partnership with the Australian National University.

The successful PhD candidate will investigate how to better include the voices of children and young people in the design, delivery, and evaluation of community services. This scholarship is in partnership with ANU, with the PhD student embedded at Relationships Australia Canberra & Region as they work to translate their research into real-world applications.

The scholarship is valued at $21,640 and is open to a prospective or continuing domestic ANU student receiving an approved ANU HDR Base stipend scholarship. Applications due 31 October.

Ex-service organisations and community groups can now apply for funding to help host events promoting healthy eating as part of this year’s Veterans’ Health Week. Applications for the $720 Veterans’ Health Week funding will be open until 19 September 2022.

Early Bird Registrations are open for The AASW Mental Health Social Work and Contemporary Practice Symposium 2022 – Online. Held on 17 November 2022, this one-day, online Symposium will explore mental health and contemporary practice from a social work perspective.

Keynote speakers and panel discussions will bring lively and thought-provoking debate to contemporary practice. A rich and rewarding program will be offered, giving attendees practical learnings and take-aways.

Visit the conference site for more information, Early Bird Registrations are now open.

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.

The annual Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo, from 4 to 7pm on Sunday 9 October 2022, is a space where the Canberra community can learn about practical ways to support their mental wellbeing and that of their community, including where to go when they need support. 

Mental Health Month ACT occurs in October each year and is coordinated by the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT.

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.