Time to galvanise support for consumer and carer leadership with a new direction for Mental Health Australia
As we move into the second half of 2020, a year we’ll already never forget, this moment in time has given many of us the chance to reflect and to also look at how we might realign our focus and strategic intent in the future.
Coming in as the new CEO for Mental Health Australia has only heightened this approach for me, as well as speaking to so many members and stakeholders over the last few months. So many passionate people working so hard.
At Mental Health Australia we have used this time to look at how best we can advocate for change now, and into the future, and over the coming months we’ll start to work on a new strategic direction as well narrow down the focus on key priorities so that our mental health ecosystem will thrive.
In my first two months in the role, I’ve quickly realised that our commitment to prioritising the strategic leadership and visionary work needed in relation to amplifying the voices of all mental health consumers and carers needs to be a key focus right now.
We need to learn more from the people with lived experience, and the families, friends and carers who walk with them.
As the national peak body for mental health, we want to define and deliver true co-design for leadership and vision in the consumer and carer movement.
With this in mind, and having had time to reflect and look at how best we can focus our existing resources, I’ve made the decision to restructure some internal roles and functions at Mental Health Australia to ensure resources are targeted to where they are needed most.
This change will amplify the wider consumer and carer voice in leadership and strategy, and is a shift that will also help inform the future strategic direction of the organisation as a whole as we seek to advocate for a better mental health ecosystem that is truly person led.
In addition to supporting the functioning of the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum and the National Register of Mental Health Consumer and Carer Representatives there needs to be very senior expertise applied to supporting and fostering a future vision for consumer and carer leadership in Australia.
Our Deputy CEO Melanie Cantwell will take on this strategic and visionary role within Mental Health Australia, which will give it more senior authority and sharper focus at an executive and Board level.
Such a change has created some choices for Director of Consumer and Carer Programs for Mental Health Australia, Kylie Wake, who as a result has chosen to move on, finishing her almost 11 year journey with us on 17 July 2020.
Kylie’s responsibilities as the lead Director for Embrace Multicultural Mental Health will now sit with Director of External Relations, Lachlan Searle.
From the outset, Kylie impressed me as a gentle, wise and experienced leader and I am sorry she is leaving us, but delighted she has been able to make a positive choice for herself and her family. I’m sure you will join me in thanking Kylie for many years of considered and committed leadership as part of the executive team at Mental Health Australia.
In terms of our next steps, we look forward to working with all of our members and stakeholders to support the important voices of and leadership by mental health consumers and carers.
Our vision of mentally healthy communities, mentally healthy people can only be achieved if consumers and carers are central to all of our work.
Have a good weekend.
Leanne Beagley
CEO
Mind Australia welcomes new CEO, Gill Callister
Mental Health Australia adds our welcome to Gill Callister as the new CEO of Mind Australia. Gill brings a breadth of leadership and management experience to the role and we look forward to continue working closely with Mind under her leadership when she begins on July 13.
Read more
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health News
|
|
The Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (the Framework) is a free, nationally available online resource which allows organisations and individual practitioners to evaluate and enhance their cultural responsiveness. It has been mapped against national standards to help you meet your existing requirements, with access to a wide range of support and resources.
Watch this space for updates on further workshops and webinars for 2020.
MyAus COVID-19: A new multilingual mobile app
Migration Council Australia has co-developed a multilingual mobile app for Australia’s CALD communities about COVID-19, its impact and available support. The MyAus COVID-19 pp allows users to browse articles, search for topics, view short animations with helpful summaries, and find useful tips and contacts to help adjusting during COVID-19. MyAus COVID-19 is free and available in 25 languages.
Read more
|
|
Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health: Final report to Government and release
The inquiry final report was handed to the Australian Government on 30 June 2020. The release of the final report by the Government is the final step in the process. Under the Productivity Commission Act 1998, the Government is required to table the report in each House of the Parliament within 25 sitting days of receipt.
Read more
New Mental Health and Disability Services Commissioner
Treasure Jennings has been appointed as the new Mental Health Complaints Commissioner and the Disability Services Commissioner.
Read more
Educator wellbeing at the heart of bushfire recovery
Trauma training and wellbeing workshops are among the supports being offered to educators in bushfire-affected communities as part of Beyond Blue’s bushfire response.
Read more
Delivering the NDIS: $20 million expansion of the National Community Connector Program
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Stuart Robert this week announced the expansion of the National Community Connector Program (NCCP), after committing to a $20 million expansion in November last year.
Read more
Veterans’ views sought to shape future engagement
Veterans and their families are being asked to provide their views on how the ex-service community is consulted and engaged, and how this can be improved.
Read more
Beyond Blue fact-checks anxiety and depression treatments
Beyond Blue has released two new booklets designed to help people separate fact from fiction about what really works for managing anxiety and depression.
Read more
The National Mental Health Sector Reference Group June 2020 communique
The National Mental Health Sector Reference Group met on Thursday June 11 2020 by video conference.
Read more
Call for ongoing telehealth to complement face-to-face consultations
The peak body for psychiatrists has urged Australia’s Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, to make permanent the availability of telehealth and telephone consultations for all patients wherever they happen to live.
Read more
NEDA and FECCA to deliver NDIS Community Connectors Program to CALD communities
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) are pleased to be working with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to implement a component of the National Community Connector Program (NCCP).
Read more
NDIS: Psychosocial recovery coach
A new support item called the psychosocial recovery coach (recovery coach) will be available for participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This new support item has been developed in response to feedback on integrating recovery-oriented practice within the NDIS.
Read more
|
|
|
|
On Monday I will be meeting with more stakeholders and members.
On Tuesday we have a Mental Health Australia Board Governance Committee meeting and a Vision 2030 meeting while on Wednesday I’ll be meeting with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to discuss their Mental Health and Suicide Information Activities.
On Thursday we’ll be holding our Mini Members Policy Forum online with Gerry Naughtin from the NDIA to discuss the introduction of a recovery-oriented approach to the NDIS through the development of a Psychosocial Disability Recovery Framework and the introduction of a Psychosocial Recovery Coach support item. I also have a meeting with MP Emma McBride, Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Carers.
On Friday I am looking forward to meeting with the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, and then in the afternoon participating in some ‘futurist’ discussions with Mental Health Australia member, the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.
|
|
|
ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. Their practical support, tools and tips help young people get through anything from everyday issues to tough times – and the information they offer parents makes it easier for them to help their teenagers, too. ReachOut has been changing the way people access help since launching as the world’s first online mental health service nearly 20 years ago. Everything they create is based on the latest evidence and designed with experts, and young people or their parents. That’s why their digital self-help tools are trusted, relevant and easy to use. Available for free anytime and pretty much anywhere, ReachOut is accessed by 132,000 people in Australia every month. That’s more than 1.58 million each year.
Website – www.reachout.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/ReachOutAUS Twitter – www.twitter.com/reachout_aus Instagram - www.instagram.com/reachout_aus
Brisbane North PHN supports clinicians and communities in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, Moreton Bay Regional Council and parts of Somerset Regional Council. It covers approximately 4,100 km2 of urban, regional and rural areas, with a population of over 900,000. The Federal Government announced the establishment of 31 Primary Health Networks to replace the national network of Medicare Locals in 2015. The Government selected successful PHNs through an open and competitive process, including the Brisbane North PHN. The key objectives of the Brisbane North PHN are:
- increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes; and
- improving coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
Website - www.brisbanenorthphn.org.au Facebook - www.facebook.com/BrisbaneNorthPHN Twitter - www.twitter.com/BrisNorthPHN
|
|
NDIS: New Operational Guidelines
New Operational Guidelines for Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) are now available.
Read more
Safe Haven webinar 7 July
The ACT government, under the Mental Health Support Package made the decision to fund the implementation of Safe Haven Cafes in the ACT. The Safe Haven Café will provide a safe alternative to the emergency department and other crisis services for adults (over 18 years) experiencing loneliness, personal difficulties, or simply seeking social connection, which are all factors influencing mental health and wellbeing and have been substantially impacted in the current COVID-19 context.
In this webinar you will have the opportunity to hear about the Safe Haven Café at St Vincent’s in Victoria, and Living Edge an alternative to the Emergency Department for people in suicidal distress in QLD. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss potential models for the ACT.
Read more
New Campaign: Hey Sport, R U OK?
National suicide prevention charity R U OK? has launched ‘Hey Sport, R U OK?’ a campaign that will benefit everyone in your sporting community. The campaign kicks off with resources and tips for coaches to help them build an R U OK? Culture and ensure all members of their sporting community feel safe and supported. An R U OK? Culture is one built on mutual respect, trust, authenticity and a willingness to support those in your grassroots sporting community who might be struggling.
The new resources will help coaches share the R U OK? message, spot the signs that someone might be struggling and provide tips to guide them on what to say and do in the event one of their athletes or players is not OK. Get involved and be a coach that changes lives and asks R U OK? at
Read more
Disability in the Bush
Ninti One and Interplay have launched Disability in the Bush, a free app which helps people in Indigenous communities, and their carers, understand their disability, the supports available from the NDIS and empower them to make their own decisions and live a good life. The app was funded by a grant from the NDIA, and its development was led by Aboriginal researchers and informed by people with disability in 5 remote NT communities.
Read more
SANE StigmaWatch Alcohol and Other Drugs has commenced operations
Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs would like to advise the sector that SANE StigmaWatch for Alcohol and Other Drugs is now operational. As part of the Mindframe for Alcohol and other Drugs sustainability plan, Mindframe has engaged with SANE Australia to extend the reach of SANE StigmaWatch to include media relating to alcohol and other drugs.
The StigmaWatch for Alcohol and Other Drugs program has been established to support the media and ensure reporting about alcohol and other drugs in Australia is done responsibly, respectfully and safely, in order to help reduce stigma and encourage access to support services.
Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs would like to encourage the sector to report any alcohol and other drugs related content that is not in line with the Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs guidelines to StigmaWatch for Alcohol and Other Drugs.
Read more
Victorian Mental Illness Council: Mental health and COVID-19 survey findings
VMIAC is the peak consumer run organisation in Victoria, therefore, they work closely with people with lived experience of mental health challenges. When COVID-19 started, they noticed a worrying increase in calls and emails from consumers, as well as an increase in the complexity of the issues they were experiencing.
Due to this, they designed and shared a survey with their members to find out exactly what was happening and how VMIAC could support them during this time. The survey ran for three weeks and included eighteen questions, including demographics, mental health experience pre and post COVID, helpful coping mechanisms and how VMIAC and other organisations can support consumers during this time.
Read more
Adam has a chat with CEO of R U OK? Katherine Newton for Heads Up With Adam Hills
|
|
|
|
