MHCA CEO's Weekly Update - 27 June

This Week

Submission to the NMHC Review

We released our third Submission to the National Mental Health Commission’s (NMHC) Review and I have been pleased to receive such positive feedback and to note so many members promoting and sharing this important piece of work.

We argue in the submission that we need an agreed vision of what a high performaing mental health system would look like, a commitment to a decade long period of targeted reform, and a commitment to national indicators and targets for mental health to guide and measure our progress.

I was pleased to see the issues raised garnered some significant media and political interest and I will be writing to members shortly to invite a more coordinated approach to our public advocacy on mental health reform over the next few months - leading up to the NMHC’s final report in November.

Director of Policy Josh Fear and I were pleased to have the chance to meet with Minister Dutton’s staff this week to talk them through the submission directly (we also met with senior officers from the Department of Social Services later in the week). We will continue these briefings in coming weeks.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to read the submission, and to please share it amongst your own networks where possible.

I also discussed the submission with Sophie Scott on ABC Radio National’s AM Program earlier in the week. You can click here to listen to the interview.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health Group

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health (NATSILMH) is a new body that has coalesced around a core group of senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention. Most are based in, or associated with, the Australian mental health commissions or other national mental health bodies. NATSILMH’s aim is to help restore, maintain and promote the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by advocating and providing advice and leadership in these areas. It also aims to reduce the high rates of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NATSILMH’s priority work is to lead and provide advice in the above areas for the mental health commissions of Australia.

I was disappointed not to be able to attend the group’s first meeting in Perth, but I sent a short video message on behalf of the MHCA which you can view here.

National Complex Needs Alliance

Today, our Communications Director Chris Wagner attended the second meeting of the National Complex Needs Alliance. The group heard from Andrew Lamming MP, Stephen Johns MP and Senator Richard Di Natale, amongst others. The range of speakers showed the bipartisan support for this issue and the clear need for systemic change and cross sector reform and cohesion. The MHCA is very interested in achieving reform, and will be working closely with the government and members of the Alliance to ensure mental health and wellbeing is recognised as an important factor in addressing and improving complex needs outcomes.

You can click here to read more about the Alliance.

Evaluating policy

On Monday Josh Fear attended a workshop convened by the Australasian Evaluation Society featuring Nick Tilley, a British expert in the theory and practice of ‘realist evaluation’. This school of thought has grown in response to the fact that it is often very difficult to say definitively whether and why a policy is succeeding or failing, at the same time that governments increasingly need definitive answers about whether their initiatives are ‘working’.

Activity Based Funding

On Tuesday Josh attended the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority’s annual conference on Activity Based Funding. The MHCA is planning to undertake some important work over the coming year preparing the mental health sector for ABF reforms, and we will be in touch with more on this soon.

Jane Halton - Department of Finance

You may have seen yesterday’s announcement that Jane Halton has been appointed as Secretary of the Department of Finance. Jane has been the Secretary at the Department of Health since 2002 and we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with her. I would like to take this opportunity congratulate Jane on her appointment and wish her all the best for her new and important role.  We hope to continue to work closely in the years ahead.

Stigmatising language

A very high profile dispute in The Australian newspaper has seen Stephen Koukoulas heavily criticised for using stigmatising and derogatory comments about mental illness and physical impairment in a dispute about plain paper packaging of cigarettes. His comments don’t deserve repeating here, but are still online.

I know a number of members have already sent Mr Koukoulas a note expressing disappointment and I would encourage anyone who shares the concern to do the same.

 

Reminders

Men’s Health Study - survey participants needed

Suicide is the 10th most common cause of death for Australian males and especially affects young men, and those coping with separation, unemployment, physical illnesses and mental health disorders. Our friends at the Black Dog Institute have been holding interviews and discussion groups around Australia to help identify and understand what can help prevent suicidal behavior in men. As part of the project, Black Dog are conducing an online survey and are looking for participants. By taking part in the survey, you can help guide the development of strategies to help other men in crisis. Full details are available from the website. 

DiG Festival - Mental Health Stream

The DiG Festival and Conference is loosely based on the extremely successful SXSW festivals in Austin, Texas. The Hunter Institute of Mental Health and the Young and Well CRC are partnering to develop a dynamic and interactive mental health, technology and innovation stream for the conference. This will include presentations and more from media, educators, technology partners and many of the organisations at the forefront of innovation in mental health. To coincide with this announcement, all organisations in the health and mental health sector are being offered a reduced “early bird” fee of $99 for the two day conference, with this discount running until 30th June. Enter the code HNHD1GD1SC0NT when registering to receive the discount. 

Equity, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth Laws Discussion Paper

The Australian Law Reform Commission has released a discussion paper on Equity, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth Laws. This discussion paper is the second consultation document in the ALRC’s Inquiry into Commonwealth laws and legal frameworks that deny or diminish the equal recognition of people with disability before the law, and their ability to exercise legal capacity. Submissions to the Inquiry are due by 30 June. You can download the discussion paper from the website. 

National Drug and Alcohol Mapping Project

The Commonwealth Department of Health, Turning Point and Monash University, have been collaborating on a website which allows users to run easy and comprehensive searches for Alcohol and Other Drug services anywhere across Australia. The National Drug and Alcohol Service Directory is now available online. The Directory is a useful resource for anyone looking to link in with an Alcohol or Other Drug treatment service in Australia. This includes individual service users, primary health providers, community and public service providers, GPs and other health professionals. Full details are available from the website. 

Working Together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice - Second Edition

Kulunga Aboriginal Research Development Unit at Telethon Kids Institute and members of the Working Together team are delighted to announce that the Second Edition of Working Together is now published and freely available online. Edited by Pat Dudgeon, Helen Milroy and Roz Walker, the document examines issues across the life course, with a greater focus on children and young people; the significant impacts of mental health in the justice system; the cultural determinants of social and emotional wellbeing and intellectual and development disabilities. Please visit the website for full details. 

TheMHS Conference 2014

Join the conversation at the largest and longest running multidisciplinary mental health conference in Australasia. TheMHS Conference attracts over 1000 mental health clinicians, managers, consumers, carers/families, researchers, cultural and indigenous workers, educators and policy makers annually.  In 2014, our international keynote speakers are Dr Pat Bracken, Ms Melody Riefer and Dr Kenneth Thompson. Don’t miss the 60 minute Q&A session with our Keynote each day, the fantastic e-Poster presentations or the Achievement Award Presentations. The full program is now online. With 11 streams over three days, there’s plenty to interest everyone! Go to the website for more information and to register. 

Law Information Hub

You are invited to join Justice Connect to celebrate the launch of the new Not-for-profit Law Information Hub.The Information Hub is a unique online information bank providing over 100 free, plain English, comprehensive legal information resources for charities and not-for-profits in Victoria and NSW. The Hub will also host Not-for-profit Law’s new multimedia resources, and provide regular updates on the rapidly changing charity and not-for-profit law landscape. Full details of the launch events in Sydney and Melbourne are available on the website. 

23rd World Volunteer Conference - early bird registration closing soon!

Early bird registration rates to attend the 23rd World Volunteer Conference are closing on 30 June. Don’t miss your opportunity to attend this exciting conference that will include a fantastic line up of speakers in 105 break-out sessions with presenters from 40 countries as well as the excellent group of keynote speakers. The conference will be held from 17-20 September at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Full details are available from the website. 

Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia

Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) has released the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia: Towards culturally inclusive service delivery. The Framework is an important tool for mental health services operating in all sectors. It enables mental health services to evaluate their cultural responsiveness, enhance delivery of services and work in partnership with CALD communities. You can find the Framework here. 

The Long-Term Unemployment Conference - early bird registration closing soon

This conference will address the causes and programs needed to provide opportunities for at risk groups: Disability, Mature Age, Youth, Indigenous and Regional Unemployed.  It will focus on “Building Capability” to create employment in the future with over 50 presentations on research, policy, programs and case studies. The conference will be held from 18-19 August at QT Hotel Gold Coast. More details are available from the website. Early bird registration rates close on 7 July so book soon to save! 

Warm regards
Frank

Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer
T: 02 6285 3100  |  M: 0409 655 460
E: frank.quinlan@mhca.org.au  |  W: mhca.org.au
PO Box 174 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600