Investing to Save - KPMG and Mental Health Australia report - May 2018

When Every Australian Counts Executive Director, Kirsten Deane spoke on the ABC 730 Report this week about the National Disability Insurance Scheme ( NDIS ), she echoed the thoughts of many. “Everyone, absolutely everyone, wants the NDIS to work… And while I don’t think anyone thought this was going to be easy, the really big question is, has the road to the NDIS been rockier than it needed to be?’ said Ms Deane.

This week I was delighted to launch an Art Exhibition in Canberra raising awareness of Borderline Personality Disorder ( BPD ). Part of BPD Awareness Week, the exhibition featured a range of artworks and installations created by people who live with BPD . People with lived experience, expressing themselves and publically displaying that expression.”

A former Prime Minister assaulted, discarded postal votes found on suburban streets, disgruntled employers and employees voicing opinions on social media, chalk rainbows outside post boxes, planes leaving trails of ‘ NO ’ smoke behind them… and constant debate. Personal and divisive debate. That’s the discourse we are seeing as the nation answers one simple ‘Yes or No’ question via post.

To say my children are the next stolen generation is completely offensive to Indigenous people, my partner and I, and my children. They are not growing up without either a mum or dad, rather they are lucky enough to be growing up with two mums and two dads. And grandparents and cousins and aunties and so on. They are surrounded by people who love them and want only the best for them. Surely children only benefit from more people loving them?