MHCA CEO's Weekly Update - 6 December

This Week

How do you like the new template?

Finally our new template for my weekly update, I hope you like it!  We have done a lot of testing, but please do advise if you have any issues reading this new and improved version. And thanks to Joanne Huxley and Sarah Morrison for dragging us into this new age.

National Disability Insurance Scheme

On Monday I gave the opening presentation at the Integrating Mental Health into the NDIS conference in Melbourne, where I launched a new MHCA position paper on the key policy issues and recommendations for action that have emerged from consultations with members and stakeholders over recent months. I took the opportunity to speak to the ABC’s Fran Kelly on these issues, and to pen an opinion piece in the Fairfax papers.

Discussions at the conference reinforced how concerned the mental health sector is about several fundamental issues relating to scheme design and implementation. Conference delegates subsequently decided to issue an open letter to the Prime Minister and Premiers outlining their concerns. I will be sure to circulate the final text of the letter as soon as it is available.

In other NDIS news, we hosted the first meetings of the five Capacity Building Project Working Groups this week. The working groups will explore issues and provide advice to the MHCA and the Project Advisory Group. We would like to thank all of the participants for their contributions to this important piece of work.

New National Mental Health Consumer Peak

Some exciting news from the project to establish a new national mental health consumer peak this week, with the release of a draft constitution. The constitution is an important step forward for the project and we are calling for your feedback on the draft document. The constitution can be downloaded at the project website and feedback can be provided either online, via email or by post. The closing date for feedback is 5pm Friday 17 January. If you have any queries about the consultation process please contact the Project Manager, Jodie Fisher on 02 6285 3100. You can also stay up to date with the project by liking their new Facebook Page today!

Journeys Home Longitudinal Study

On Wednesday, Emily Clay and Travis Gilbert joined me in attending a Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research Forum at which the findings from the Journeys Home Longitudinal Study of Factors Affecting Housing Stability were discussed. The study is the first of its kind in Australia and it aims to track the housing and other service use pathways both past and present of a group of just over 1600 Centrelink recipients deemed to be experiencing, at risk of or vulnerable to homelessness. The findings will be made publicly available in the coming weeks.

National Complex Needs Alliance

Chris Wagner attended the inaugural meeting of the newly formed National Complex Needs Alliance on Wednesday. The Alliance is made up of a range of stakeholders from across the community sector, and is seeking to establish an advocacy campaign relating to the issue of complex needs. Complex needs is an important and little understood issue that often impacts on people living with a mental illness. MHCA will be working to ensure a collaborative approach to increasing knowledge in this pressing area and bringing a focus on whole of life to the table.

Thank you to all the volunteers!

International Volunteer Day was celebrated yesterday and it was a great time to reflect on the amazing work performed by thousands of volunteers across the country. The entire MHCA team would like to thank the many volunteers who assist our members in their work.

Human Rights Award Winner - Flourish

Congratulations to Darren Jiggins and all our friends at Flourish for their win this week at the annual Human Rights Week Awards. This year a new award was introduced, the ‘Award for Mental Health Focused Activity’ to recognise work undertaken to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights in the area of mental health. The award, named in memory of Lucy Henry, was won by Flourish: Mental Health Action in Our Hands for their work in this area. Well done to the entire team!

 

Reminders

Suicide and Me - Opening Shot documentary

A new documentary aired on ABC2 this week featuring the stories of three young suicide survivors and the social stigma that forced them to suffer in silence. Parallel to these stories is the story of two suicide hotline volunteers who work throught the night to help people get through their darkest hour. If you missed the first screening, ABC2 will be repeating the documentary on Sunday 8 December at 10.20pm.

ReachOut.com - new strategic plan released

Our friends at ReachOut.com released a new, three year strategic plan this week. The plan features a challenge to significantly increase the number of young people getting help from the service over the next 3 years.

Guide for Carers: updated resource from beyondblue

A guide for carers, developed by beyondblue, has recently been updated and aims to provide carers with an avenue through which to receive valuable information that will improve both their mental health and general wellbeing. The guide can be downloaded from the beyondblue website or ordered from the Support Line on 1300 224 636.

Support After Suicide - new multimedia resource

A new multimedia project from Support After Suicide was launched by Prof Pat McGorry this week. Thank you for listening has been created by people bereaved by suicide and is a book of new poetry and prose with some of the works being made into short films. The creative works are available online as an ebook and video.

TheMHS Summer Forum - register now

A reminder that the TheMHS 2014 Summer Forum will be held on 20-21 February 2014 in Sydney. The forum will discuss workplace health and safety with an emphasis on psychological as well as physical safety for people working in mental health services. For full details including registration information please visit the website.

Call for Speakers - Long Term Unemployment Conference

The Long Term Unemployment Conference is currently calling for speakers to present at the event in August 2014. The theme of the conference is ‘Building Capability’, to better understand the social implications of long term unemployment and employment creation programs. This is a great opportunity, particularly for consumers and carers, to have your voice heard. If you are interested in speaking at or attending the conference visit the website for full details.

Happiness and its Causes Conference - early bird registration ends 20 December

Be part of the world’s leading forum exploring happiness and wellbeing. The Happiness and its Causes Conference will be held on 29-30 May 2014 in Sydney and features presentations from 30+ renowned international and Australian speakers. Early bird rates close on 20 December so don’t miss your opportunity to save some money on ticket prices.

Young and Well CRC Connect 2014

A national conference hosted by the Young and Well CRC will be held in Melbourne on 20-21 February 2014. Connect 2014 will bring together researchers, policy makers, practitioners and young people from across the country for an exclusive insight into the latest research on how technologies can improve youth mental health.

Collective Impact 2014: Convene, Immerse, Learn

Collective Impact 2014 will be Australia’s first ever convening of international thought leaders, local experts and collaborators from business, government, not-for-profit and philanthropy sectors. The Conference will explore how to bring this breakthrough model to life in Australia and will be held in Sydney on 25-26 February.

PTSD Coach Australia

A new mobile app has been developed by the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence to support serving and ex serving Australian Defence Force personnel experiencing PTSD. Mental health practitioners are using PTSD Coach Australia in conjunction with traditional treatment for trauma.

Warm regards

Frank