Be a Voice for Generations
Reconciliation Week is a significant time in Australia’s calendar, where people come together to reflect on the shared histories, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, “Be a Voice for Generations”, asks us to find ways we can all stand up for reconciliation in our everyday lives. The effect of doing so will reverberate into the future.
“Be a Voice for Generations” involves also supporting what Reconciliation Australia calls “the next steps in Australia’s reconciliation journey” – voting “yes” to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, creating a treaty, and truth-telling.
This year, Reconciliation Week takes on another level of resonance as it coincides with the news of Wiradjuri man and esteemed journalist Stan Grant stepping back from his role at the ABC. Grant has been a prominent figure in Australia’s media landscape. He has consistently shed light on the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, sparking important conversations about reconciliation. He has also been at the receiving end of ugly, racist comments, particularly following his commentary on the Coronation.
On his last appearance on Q&A, Grant offered a reflection on the reason behind his break. It was not the vitriol. It was the building culture of divisiveness and derision that he saw in the popular media. Grant pointed out that this division is burdensome, and gets us away from our best selves. “We in the media must ask if we are truly honouring a world worth living in. Too often, we are the poison in the bloodstream of our society. I fear the media does not have the love or the language to speak to the gentle spirits of our land.”
The mental health toll of this poison is clear. We saw it in Stan Grant’s face when he said, “Sometimes our souls are hurting, and so it is for me.” And in a context of intergenerational trauma resulting from colonisation, dispossession, and cultural erasure, there persist significant mental health challenges for those who see the attacks on Grant and feel, once again, a lack of belonging.
It is an important reminder that regardless of your opinion on a matter like the Voice, we must strive to stay respectful. As with the 2017 marriage equality plebiscite, we have concerns that discussion of the Voice may lead to increased discrimination, harassment, hate speech, and violence towards already marginalised people. The Australian Government’s allocation of $10.5M to support the mental health of First Nations people in the lead up to, during, and following the referendum is welcome. However prevention is better. We recommend viewing the Yes Guide for more information about hosting safe conversations about the Voice.
Reconciliation, by acknowledging past wrongs and working towards healing, can restore that sense of belonging for First Nations peoples. A sense of belonging should be a birthright, for peoples who have a continuous, 60,000 year connection to this continent. By being a voice for generations, as Reconciliation Australia asks of us, we can work towards a new culture of care and healing.
Harry Lovelock
Acting CEO, Mental Health Australia
The diary next week - On Monday, I have a co-design sector meeting hosted by Inclusion Australia
- On Wednesday, we have a Roundtable Discussion hosted by Suicide Prevention Australia on what recommendations should be put to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
- Thursday is the ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation National Quarterly Forum
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Resources on the Voice ReferendumIn April 2023, the Mental Health Australia Board Directors agreed unanimously to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. The Board noted the unequivocal links between identity, recognition and genuine engagement in policy development, and social and emotional wellbeing.
The Voice and Mental Health We have produced an explainer of the Voice with an overview of how the referendum and the Voice to Parliament itself may impact the mental health of First Nations peoples. The resource discusses the importance of safe conversations, closing the gap, and building a better sense of inclusion and belonging.
Does your mental health organisation have resources about the Voice? Let us know. |
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Send us your news, events, and job vacancies
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Communicate your news, job vacancies, or upcoming events to more than 5,000 people in the mental health ecosystem weekly. Mental Health Australia members are invited to send us news, announcements, job vacancies, events or other notices for inclusion in the Weekly CEO Update newsletter. To do so, simply fill out this form by COB each Thursday for your notice to appear in the newsletter. |
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Mental Health Australia welcomes new member:Institute of Clinical Psychologists (ICP)ICP focuses on promoting and supporting high standards of ethical and professional practice among psychologists who work in the private sector. ICP has been active in the mental health sector for almost 50 years and has an established history of advocating for improved mental health services. |
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Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA)CoMHWA is Western Australia’s peak body by, and for, people with a lived experience of mental health distress. Our core purpose is to strengthen and advance the voice, leadership and expertise of people with a lived experience of mental health issues and/or distress. We educate and raise awareness on consumer rights, promote peer support and the peer workforce, lead change with consumers and promote and support recovery and wellbeing with and for consumers. |
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Victoria’s first residential eating disorder treatment centreConstruction of Victoria’s first Public Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre (RED-TC) in Melbourne’s East will soon begin, via a joint investment from the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams announced that the Victorian Budget 2023/24 invests $16.9 million in funding to get the service up and running, delivering 24/7 support for Victorians who need it. This funding builds on the $13 million provided by the Commonwealth for the service - which will provide comprehensive, specialist and recovery-focused treatment for Victorians aged 18 and over living with an eating disorder. |
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$70 million for eating disorders and childhood mental healthMinister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler, said the Albanese Government is providing $70 million in grants for innovative programs to research and treat mental ill-health and eating disorders, improve services, educate health professionals and support patients, their families and carer. Programs to address gaps identified by people with lived experience of eating disorders and other experts will share in $20 million of funding. The University of Sydney’s InsideOut Institute’s award-winning eClinic and Digital GP Hub will each receive $4 million. The eClinic will make effective, evidence-based care and treatment available digitally to people with an eating disorder, regardless of where they live. |
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Eating Disorders QLD receives grant funding As part of Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler’s $70million grants announcement, Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ) will gratefully receive $2 million. The funding will be used across four years to implement a brief structured eating disorder treatment program, available in-person at several locations in Queensland or online across the state. |
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RACGP: Crazy Socks for Docs Day highlights doctors’ mental healthThe Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling for changes to rules that discourage GPs from seeking help for mental health. The call comes on Crazy Socks for Docs Day, 1 June 2023, which was started by Dr Geoffrey Toogood in 2017 to address mental health stigma among health practitioners.
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Mental health support program for SA construction industryMinister for Small and Family Business, Andrea Michaels, says the Malinauskas Labor Government is partnering with the Master Builders Association of SA (MBA) to deliver crucial mental health support to the state’s construction workers. The Building & Construction Mental Health Support Program aims to reduce the prevalence of mental illness and suicide in the Australian construction industry-an industry where, sadly, we lose a worker to suicide every second day. In fact, Australian construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than in a workplace accident. A grant of $150,000 will fund the MBA to appoint wellness ambassadors to help business owners and workers navigate common pressures associated with working in construction. The program will target business owners, subcontractors and workers including tailored support for female and First Nations members of the industry. |
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Ken Wyatt appointed director as Beyond Blue backs Voice to ParliamentYamatji man and former Liberal MP Ken Wyatt will join Beyond Blue’s board. Beyond Blue Chair Julia Gillard said the appointment coincided with the organisation’s launch of its public position in support of a Yes vote on the Voice to Parliament. “We welcome Mr Wyatt to Beyond Blue and feel fortunate to have a respected leader of his calibre join our board,” Ms Gillard said. |
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Significant changes to Online Safety industry codes made by eSafety Commissioner The eSaftey Commissioner claims Australia will have “world-first industry codes” as it was confirmed two of the eight online safety codes drafted by the industry will not be registered. There will be new mandatory codes with five new sections under Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021 to provide more protection for Australians online. These codes require industry to take the necessary actions to reduce the accessibility of the most harmful online content, such as child sexual abuse and terrorism material. |
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Calls for stricter guidelines around harmful social media content promoting eating disordersIndependent Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, said it’s time for the Online Safety Act to reflect the eating disorder crisis in Australia. This is why I’m proposing changes to the Act that would grant the eSafety Commissioner the power to request the removal of pro-eating disorder content online and place a positive duty of care on online platforms for their users’ wellbeing. Every parent should be able to feel confident that their child is protected from the dangers of social media. Currently, the eSafety Commissioner can intervene, typically with Removal Notices, for content such as cyber-bullying, intimate images uploaded without consent and cyber-abuse material. |
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Social media and youth mental health 2023 (Report from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory)The Report is calling attention to the growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth mental health, this Advisory explores and describes some of the primary areas for mental health and well-being concerns, and opportunities for additional research to help understand the full scope and scale of social media’s impact. |
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Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
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Lived experience engagement opportunity: Eating Disorder Peer Workforce GuidelinesButterfly is creating National Eating Disorder Peer Workforce Guidelines to support the development of an effective, safe, and sustainable eating disorder peer workforce in Australia. The Guidelines will build on the work of a 2021 - 22 research project, An eating disorder-focused peer workforce: Needs assessment (2022), and other frameworks developed. As a part of developing the guidelines, they are engaging with people with a lived experience of an eating disorder (both those who have accessed peer work for support and those who haven’t been able to access peer work), their carers, and family members, and peer workers (peer mentors, peer coaches, peer supervisors) supporting people experiencing an eating disorder. The survey is looking to hear lived experience perspectives on best practices of ED peer work, the challenges peer workers are facing, and guiding principles that should underpin the peer workforce. Survey participants can be anonymous. |
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Australian Counselling Association 2023 Annual ConferenceThe ACA 2023 National Conference will showcase leading mental health research from Australia’s foremost educational institutions through masterclasses and best practice applications from local and international experts through workshops and presentations. The sessions will include over 60 masterclasses, workshops, presentations, and panels over 3 days. This Conference will also offer Mental Health Professionals and students opportunities to engage and network with their peers. From Friday, 29th September to Sunday, 1 October 2023, at the Hilton Sydney, In-person Conference. Book before July 1st and claim the tax deduction in the new financial year. |
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Opportunity to participate in peer support workforce survey
Researchers at Victoria University would like to hear from adults (18+) who provide peer-support to Australians living with mental health issues to gain a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and challenges you face in this important role. Participation will involve a confidential online survey that will ask about the benefits and challenges you face as a peer-supporter, including your job satisfaction, quality of life, personal mental health recovery, and self-stigma.
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Nominations are open for the 2023 Australian Mental Health PrizeThis prestigious award recognises outstanding contributions to either the promotion of mental health, or the prevention and treatment of mental illness across Australia in four key categories: - Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Lived experience
- Professional
- Community Hero
Entries close on July 17. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at UNSW on Monday 25 September 2023. |
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