The diary next week

• On Wednesday, I am meeting with the Department of Health and Aged Care. 
• On Thursday, I am attending Mental Health Australia’s Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting and then I have a meeting with National Disability Services.
• On Friday I am attending SANE’s Town hall briefing on improving the digital navigation of Australia’s mental health service system.
• On Monday, I am joining a meeting of the Australian Psychosocial Alliance. I am also attending a Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCO) briefing with the Hon Bill Shorten, Minister for the NDIS, and attending a consultation session on the NDIS legislation.
• On Tuesday I am meeting with new Mental Health Australia Member, The Australian Music Therapy Association, and am meeting with Homelessness Australia.

Job Opportunity with Mental Health Australia

Communications Officer

This position is responsible for supporting the Senior Communications Manager with day-to-day management of media, communications and engagement activity for the organisation. The role includes assisting with the coordination of the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) campaign as well as social media and publication development and release.

• Excellent opportunity to work with a highly respected national not for profit peak organisation for the mental health sector
• 12 Month Contract - part-time (0.6 FTE)
• Competitive Full Time Equivalent base salary of $88,536, plus super, plus charity salary packaging options
• Inclusive, supportive and flexible work environment
• Remote work from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be considered

Applicants should include a copy of their current resume and a one-page pitch as to why you would be a great fit for the job. Applications should be received no later than Thursday 25 July 2024 5pm AEST.

Mental health organisations collaborate to call for changes to social media platforms

Mental health organisations ReachOut, Beyond Blue and Black Dog Institute are calling for a range of evidence-based measures to help improve the safety of social media platforms for young people, including verification of mental health information and limiting infinite scroll features. 

Reform urgently needed to protect Australians on social media

Social media giants must be brought into line to protect all Australians from the harms of social media. In a new submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the influence and impacts of social media on Australian society, the AMA has called on Australia to implement European-style laws that provide greater transparency about how individuals’ data is collected, shared and used.

Expert advisory group to help guide the NDIA on co-design and improvements to the NDIS for children

A new expert advisory group featuring some of Australia’s most respected early childhood experts will help shape improvements to the experience of children and their families in the NDIS. The Minister for NDIS, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP announced the group yesterday and said the Children’s Expert Advisory Group (Advisory Group) would work with the National Disability Insurance Agency to co-design improvements to the NDIS for children and their families, including those arising from NDIS Review recommendations accepted by the Government. 

Albanese Government announces NDIS grant funding

Minister for the NDIS and Government Services, Bill Shorten, says the Albanese Government is investing in the future of regional and diverse NDIS communities through $5 million in grant funding. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission grant opportunity aims to develop the knowledge and skills of participants, providers and workers to access and deliver quality and safe NDIS supports and services.

Suicide prevention leaders call for release of National Suicide Prevention Strategy

In a powerful, collective statement, Suicide Prevention Australia published an Open Letter signed by over 40 organisations - including Lifeline, headspace, Black Dog Institute, Orygen, Gidget Foundation, and RUOK? - calling for the release of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy following numerous promises and budget commitments from the Federal Government.

Productivity Commission final report on philanthropic giving

The Albanese Labor Government has released the Productivity Commission’s once-in-a-generation review of philanthropic giving. The review aims to boost donations to charities to help achieve the Government’s target of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030. 

New NT Mental Health Lived Experience Framework (NT)

Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Selena Uibo said the Lawler Labor Government continues to deliver safe and responsive mental health services that are aligned with the diverse and evolving needs of the community. 

Long wait times and abandoned calls trigger Mental Health Triage performance plan (SA)

South Australia’s Chief Psychiatrist has placed the Mental Health Triage service on a performance management plan for at least six months after it was revealed emergency calls to the hotline are being abandoned by callers or aren’t being answered at all. 

Digital mental health system navigation project

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has commissioned a project to develop digital options that support help seekers to connect with appropriate care. The project is being delivered by SANE who have assembled a consortium to design a lived-experience and sector led approach. This approach aims to develop sector-supported options that consider the diverse needs and perspectives of help seekers and their support networks accessing services and providers across Australia. A short briefing note is attached to provide some additional detail about the project.

The project is currently in its early stages and is looking to gain broad input from people and organisations who have a role in delivering mental health services or supporting help seekers to navigate the project.

Town hall objectives

1. Provide an overview of the Digital Navigation project and opportunities for stakeholder engagement
2. Consider how well the Mental Health system is supporting help seekers to find and connect with mental health care in Australia
3. Discuss where and how national solutions would have the greatest impact in supporting help seekers
4. Discuss the role and value of digital solutions in supporting help seekers to navigate the mental health system and access care.

Who should attend:  The Town Hall is intended for senior stakeholders from across the sector, including service providers, peaks, government representatives, academics, and lived experience groups.

When and where is the town hall: There are two options to participate in the town hall

• In person: Friday 26 July, 10am-4pm, Melbourne Connect, 700 Swanston Street Carlton, VIC 3053. We ask that organisations limit attendees to one or two people per organisation for the in-person town hall.
• Virtual: Monday 12 August 1-4pm – We will not have capped numbers for the virtual town hall.

Further information and registration and sign up for the town hall events can be found in the links below.

Register for the in person town hall

Register for the virtual town hall

For further information please reach out to digitalnav@sane.org out if there is anything you wish to discuss in relation to this project or the event outlined above.

Grant opportunity: self-advocacy and peer supports for people with disability

The Australian Government has announced a grant round to fund community-based self-advocacy and peer supports. The National Disability Insurance Agency says “This is a one-off grant round delivered by the NDIA, providing up to $20 million per year in funding over two years. Community-based, disability-led organisations who run existing peer support and self-advocacy programs are eligible to apply.” Organisations will be able to apply when the grant program is released via GrantConnect.

FACTORS – Factors Affecting Community Treatment Orders Research Study

Australia has one of the highest rates of forced community treatment for diagnosed mental illness in the world but there is considerable variation across the country and between mental health services.

We are seeking people to participate in an online survey that will investigate the experiences and perceptions of people who have been placed on a community treatment order (CTOs) for their mental health. There is also a separate survey for Family/Carers.

This project is supported by La Trobe University, Flinders University, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney and Lived Experience Australia.

If you would like to participate in this study, please use the links below appropriate to your circumstance.

• Individuals identifying as someone who has been placed under a CTO
• For those who are Families/Friends/Supporters of someone who has been placed under a CTO
  

If you have any questions about this project please get in touch with Professor Sharon Lawn at Flinders via email at sharon.lawn@flinders.edu.au.

If you know someone who may be able to assist us with this study, we would very much appreciate if you could forward this email to them.

This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Flinders University (HREC 6854).

Participate in research: Social inclusion + psychosis

Orygen is researching how people living with psychosis experience social inclusion and social cognition. They are inviting people aged 25 to 65 who are living with a psychotic illness to share their experience.

Participation will require completing some questionnaires, taking part in an interview and completing some cognitive tasks. Participants will be reimbursed for their time.

If you wish to discuss the project further, please contact Annabel on 0437 051 846 on annabel.burnside@orygen.org.au

Ethics number: HREC/16/MH/325

R U OK? encourages year-round conversations: Ask R U OK? Any Day

A lot can happen in a year, a month, a week. Whether it’s your friend, family member, colleague, partner, or teammate, the people you care about go through life’s ups and downs every day.

That’s why R U OK? is calling on everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day. New research has found 90% of people who are regularly asked R U OK? feel more supported, connected and cared about. By checking in regularly with the people close to you, you can help prevent small things from becoming big things.

R U OK?Day is Thursday 12 September but you can Ask R U OK? Any Day.

Visit ruok.org.au for free tips and tools to build the R U OK? message across your year.

#RUOKAnyDay #RUOK

Participate in ReMind research

Led by Professor Kaarin Anstey at UNSW, ReMind is an app-based longitudinal study investigating cognitive and mental health resilience over the life course. They are looking to recruit 1600 adult participants (aged 18-95 years) across Australia (iPhone users) to participate for the next year.

They are currently focusing on recruiting individuals with a lived experience of psychotic illness. The study involves participants completing online surveys, an interview about their mental health, and some cognitive tasks. Participants are reimbursed for their time.

It has been approved by the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: HC220723).

The Collab 2024 Conference

2024 Rural Mental Health Conference

Cairns, Qld 6th – 8th November, mark the dates in your calendar now for this year’s Rural Mental Health Conference.

This event is the place to be if you work in mental or allied health within rural and remote communities or with companies that support better mental health outcomes for rural communities.

Use the code: MHA20 via this link: https://anzmh.asn.au/rmhc and gain 20% off your registration.

Register now for the 10th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health

Hear from the keynote speaker, Associate Professor Heather Boetto, an expert in Environmental Social Work. Heather’s groundbreaking research and leadership in community-based initiatives and disaster practices have earned her international recognition. Heather will highlight opportunities for collective, localised, and decolonised solutions in social work.

The Promise Documentary

Directed by Jye Currie, a new documentary, titled The Promise, is being featured at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on 28 July at Cinema Nova, on Lygon Street in Melbourne.

At its core, The Promise delves into the depths of hope and human resilience, offering an intimate exploration of the challenges faced by those affected by suicide. Through the courageous journey of Craig Hamilton and the poignant stories of survivors and loving families, the film offers a raw and unfiltered look at the impact of suicide on individuals and communities alike.

The documentary is described as a journey of discovery, understanding, and hope. Through powerful interviews with leading researchers and health experts, the film provides valuable insights into the complex factors contributing to suicide and the strategies for prevention.

Mental Health Australia has no affiliation with the production. 

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