CEO Weekly Update - 5 September
This Week
Mental Health Australia Board Meeting
The Mental Health Australia Board met in Canberra this week.
The Board remain focussed on the National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Services and Programs, which is now entering its final stages. Processes are already underway to seek member views on key issues and I thank members who have already responded. Of course, the NDIS, McClure and other significant reforms also received attention. The Board also made some preparations for a forthcoming meeting with Minister Dutton, hoping that we might be able to strengthen the case for reform and offer the assistance of the sector in achieving real and lasting improvements in the system.
As members will hear at the forthcoming AGM, the Board also noted the strong financial result for the financial year.
Partners in Recovery
I end the week in Sydney for a meeting of the Partners in Recovery Expert Advisory Group.
While this program is still in its relatively early stages I have certainly begun to hear some very encouraging accounts of successful interventions in the lives of people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, particularly from carers.
I am also aware that the program will face challenges as it rolls out in a very uncertain environment, including the significant reforms afoot amongst Medicare Locals.
I would be very interested to hear directly from members and stakeholders with direct experience of the program (good or bad) so that we can form up our views about what the future of the program might look like. You can read more about the program if you follow the link below.
RACGP General Practice Patient Charter Consultation
The Royal Australian College of GPs is currently developing a General Practice Patient Charter and is inviting key stakeholders to provide feedback during the consultation process. The Charter is designed to provide guidance on what patients can expect when seeking or receiving care and what the profession can expect from patients to help facilitate the delivery of safe and high quality clinical care. It aims to improve people’s experiences of general practice services and encourage them be more involved in their healthcare. The RACGP is seeking input and comments on the draft Charter by 14 September 2014, and Mental Health Australia will be providing feedback, so please let us know what you think. If you are interested in participating directly in the consultation process please contact Gisele Rocha at RACGP – 03 8699 0361 or gisele.rocha@racgp.org.au.
National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention
Emily Clay, Manager Policy and Projects attended a workshop convened by Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) on the National Research Action Plan for Suicide Prevention. SPA is engaging with a number of stakeholders, including consumers and carers, service providers and researchers, to develop the Action Plan ahead of its release on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September 2015. Full details on this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day is provided in the Reminders section below.
Mental Health Australia and Homelessness Australia pre-conference workshop
Mental Health Australia is partnering with Homelessness Australia to host a workshop on the interface between mental health and homelessness at the 8th National Homelessness Conference at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre next week. The workshop will bring together more than 120 people from the homelessness, housing and community mental health sectors and will feature a presentation by Mental Health Australia, a presentation by the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck and a panel session involving homelessness, housing and mental health practitioners and policy people.
National Consumer Peak Organisation - project update
While we wait for a decision regarding future funding, work continues on the project to establish a National Mental Health Consumer Peak Organisation with the Consumer Reference Group (CRG) meeting recently. The meeting discussed finalising the constitution and funding issues. To find out more about the meeting, please visit the project website and download the CRG’s Communique.
Mental Health Australia Board nominations close 8 September
A reminder for voting members that nominations for the Mental Health Australia Board close on Monday, 8 September. If you are interested in nominating for a Board position, please contact Melanie Cantwell via phone 02 6285 3100 or email melanie.cantwell@mhaustralia.org
Mental Health Conferences Funding Program - last chance!
The September funding round for the Mental Health Conference Funding Program closes on 12 September. Don’t miss your opportunity to secure funding for your next event. Visit our website for the full details including application requirements.
Walk for Mental Health - donate and help Kirrily
On 4 October 2014 Kirrily Moyler will walk 50km to raise money for our World Mental Health Day campaign and advocacy projects. Kirrily has chosen Mental Health Australia as she is passionate about creating change for the future and breaking down barriers in public perceptions about mental illness. Her 50km walk in Brisbane will take her from Teralba Park (Everton Park) to Pirate Park (Scarborough) along Kedron Brook Bikeway and Moreton Bay Cycleway. If you are interested in helping Kirrily please visit our website.
ABC Mental As…
As mentioned in previous updates, we are very excited that the ABC has launched their Mental As campaign and will be dedicating their programming and content to discussing mental health in the lead up to Mental Health Week. A range of Ambassadors have been announced and you can follow the plans for the week by visiting the ABC website or on Twitter (#MentalAs).
Parliamentary news
Social Services and other Legislation Amendment Bills - to be introduced
The Social Services and other Legislation (2014 Budget Measures 1 and 2) Amendment Bills 2014 are being introduced into the Senate in the next sitting following the release of the Senate Community Affairs Committee’s report on their impacts. The Bills include measures that would change Disability Support Pension eligibility and participation requirements for people aged under 35, change indexation arrangements for pensions and deny young people who are not ‘earning or learning’ access to Centrelink payments for at least 6 months each year. Mental Health Australia made a brief submission to the Inquiry.
Senate estimates discusses Hidden Toll report
Greens Senator Penny Wright this week called on the Government to implement the key recommendations of the Hidden Toll: Suicide in Australia report of the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee. Senator Wright also called on the Government to fund a national suicide prevention and awareness campaign.
NDIS Joint Standing Committee - progress report tabled
The NDIS Joint Standing Committee this week handed down its progress report on the implementation and administration of the NDIS. Click on the link below to download the report.
Appointment of Departmental Secretaries
The Government announced this week that Mr Martin Bowles PSM has been appointed as Secretary of the Department of Health following the departure of Jane Halton earlier this year. We look forward to working with Mr Bowles over the coming months.
Reminders
Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week: 1-7 September
Our friends at the Butterfly Foundation are currently celebrating Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The week aims to raise awareness of eating disorders and poor body image in Australia. This year, the theme is Love Your Body and we are encouraging all Australians to take a pledge to making a commitment to learning how to love their bodies.
World Suicide Prevention Day - 10 September
This year’s World Suicide Prevention Day is on next Wednesday, 10 September. There are many opportunities for you to get involved, including an online forum to debate the first ever World Suicide Report (due to be released by the World Health Organisation this week). The forum will be hosted by the National Coalition for Suicide Prevention, led by SPA. Everyone from health professionals to interested members of the community is invited to join local experts online as they discuss Australia’s response to the World Suicide Report – what are we doing well? What do we need to do better? Questions from the audience will be encouraged throughout the forum. Full details on the forum are available on the website.
R U OK? Day - 11 September
Following World Suicide Prevention Day, R U OK? Day will be celebrated next Thursday, 11 September. Be a conversation mate and ask your friends, family and colleagues, R U OK? Full details on the day including events happening in your area can be viewed from the website.
Gavin Mooney Memorial Essay Competition
An essay competition has been launched to honour the work and memory of the late Professor Gavin Mooney, a health economist who was a tireless advocate for social justice in local, national and international arenas. This year’s topic is ‘the social and cultural determinants of mental health: collective responsibilities; individualism; austerity; entitlements.’ Entries for the $5,000 Gavin Mooney Memorial Essay Competition are open until 1 October.
Scholarships for WA not-for-profits
Australian Scholarships Foundation announced this week that the Bankwest Foundation will fund a $1 million Scholarship Program for directors and leaders of West Australian not-for-profit organisations. The scholarships provide funding for education and training programs. Full details are available from the website.
Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention Annual Report
The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention have released their 2013 annual report. The report highlights activities from their first year of operation along with plans for future work. The full report can be downloaded from the website.
Women in Health and Ageing Leadership Summit
The Women in Health and Ageing Leadership Summit 2014 will be held on 2-3 December in Melbourne. The summit aims to provide critical strategies, solutions and practical insights for women to advance as leaders in health and aged care. Full details including the agenda and speakers are available from the website.
WA Parliamentary inquiry into mental illness in fly-in, fly-out workers
The WA Parliament announced an inquiry into mental illness in fly-in, fly-out workers this week. The inquiry will look into the contributing factors that may lead to mental illness and suicide amongst FIFO workers, the current legislation, regulations, policies and practices for workplace mental health in Western Australia and provide recommendations.
Royal Commission research reports
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has this week published two research reports by the Australian Institute of Criminology. The two reports; History of child sexual abuse offences in Australia, and Brief review of contemporary sexual offence and child sexual abuse legislation in Australia, will provide important information for the Royal Commission in the development of their final recommendations. A summary of the reports is available from the website.
MHCC ACT - positions vacant
The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT is currently seeking applications for two positions, an Executive Officer and a Policy and Sector Development Manager. The MHCC ACT is the peak body representing the not-for-profit community managed mental health sector in the ACT. Full details of the positions and how to apply are available on the website.
Warm regards,
Frank
Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer
