In this Sector Update, find:

• The CEO blog, from Melanie Poole
• Sector News
• Upcoming events
• Grants, community resources, and other opportunities

Our next Sector Update will be on 8 December. Let us know if you have anything you'd like us to include by replying to this email.

It is already late November, and the end-of-year season is just about here! As we approach the end of a transformative year, I have been enjoying my time recently with the MHCC ACT staff and Board team in planning a purposeful year ahead.

When there is so much activity going on in the mental health and community sectors, it can be difficult to set aside time for reflection and strategy. But it is energising to express our ideas, our goals, and our overarching vision so we can make best use of the opportunities available to us.

We are continually reminded of how important our advocacy pillars are as events unfold. One of our areas of focus is loneliness, which the World Health Organization has recently declared a “global public health concern”. Going forward, we will be playing our part in addressing this global issue in Canberra as we plan our submission to the Inquiry into Loneliness and Social Isolation in the ACT.

As a result of ongoing consultation with our members, MHCC ACT have also been able to conduct productive meetings with Members of the Legislative Assembly. This week, I met with Michael Pettersson, Leanne Castley, Emma Davidson, and Rebecca Vassarotti. We have more meetings lined up over the coming weeks, and into the new year. We have been pleased to see the genuine interest ACT MLAs have in mental health, and in our priority areas – including our upcoming budget bid which will focus heavily on the resourcing our sector needs for the commissioning process, as well as our key thematic priorities: loneliness, perinatal wellbeing, climate and mental health, and justice. We look forward to building on these discussions.

Next week, we will be hosting our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 28 November from 4pm – 5pm at the beautiful KPMG Parliament Room, 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra. We ask all members to join us for this important gathering as we share updates, discuss milestones, and set the stage for another year of meaningful work. As well, in accordance with the Rules of Association the appointment of board members will take place at the AGM. The following positions will be filled for a two-year term at the 2023 AGM:

· Full Member Ordinary Directors

· 1 x Lived Experience Director

Finally, an update to let you know that I will be heading on maternity leave soon, until July 2024. I am grateful to be able to leave MHCC in the very capable hands of our Chief Operations Officer, Jane Brownbill, and our wonderful team during this period.

I hope to see you at the AGM on Tuesday!

- Melanie Poole, CEO MHCC ACT

In the news

WHO declares loneliness a ‘global public health concern’ | The Guardian

After raising the age, what happens when children commit crimes in the ACT? | The Canberra Times

Four in five Australians think income inequality is too high as social cohesion drops | SBS News

How the ACT's free 3-year-old preschool will work from 2024 | The Canberra Times 

Low income earners priced out of Canberra | Canberra Daily 

Menslink walkers tired but satisfied after an epic trek and an enormous achievement | Riotact

New report reveals shocking state of prisoner health. Here’s what needs to be done | The Conversation

'No need' for security guards at Dhulwa mental health unit, hearing told | The Canberra Times 

Perinatal Mental Health Week: ACT parents better supported as perinatal services launch finder | The Canberra Times 

Therapeutic spaces front of mind for CAMHS Southside's new home in Woden | Riotact 

Trans Awareness Week: “Visibility Is Crucial” | Starr Observer 

Seeking participants

Annual NDIS Conference 2024 Topic & Speaker Nominations

This is your chance to tell the NDIS Conference what matters the most to you right now. You can pitch session ideas, and nominate the talented speakers and artists you think will knock people’s socks off.

Submissions close 15 December 

Feedback on the principles and priorities of a Blueprint for Australia’s not-for-profit (NFP) sector. 

In October 2022, the Australian Government tasked the Community Services Advisory Group (CSAG) to develop a Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint (NFP Blueprint). In December 2022, CSAG established the Blueprint Expert Reference Group (BERG). BERG comprises 9 representatives from the Community Services Sector. The BERG is leading the work to develop a fully consulted Blueprint to deliver advice to Government charting out a better future for the Australian not-for-profit (NFP) and charities sector. The Blueprint will be used to develop a suite of sector-led workable and effective options for reform to strengthen social capital and a vibrant sector.

The purpose of the consultation is to invite your feedback on the principles and priorities of a Blueprint for Australia’s not-for-profit (NFP) sector. The NFP Sector Development Blueprint Issues Paper (NFP Blueprint Issues Paper) forms the basis of this consultation.

The Issues Paper and 2 page Summary Vision document include a number of discussion questions to guide (but not limit) your feedback. You can share your views by addressing some or all of the questions outlined in the Issues Paper, or you may choose to provide us with your feedback and thoughts without responding to any particular question.

Submissions close 20 December 

Australian Mental Health Promotion Practitioner Competency Framework

Mental health promotion is a specialist field of endeavour that focuses on three outcomes:

• Promoting mental wellbeing.
• Preventing the onset of mental health conditions.
• Enhancing mental health literacy to promote self-care, and help-giving and help-seeking for mental ill-health, and suicidal ideation.

While the field has existed for some time, it has not always received the attention it deserves. Prevention United is keen to change this, and encourage more people to work in mental health promotion. We believe that having a Competency Framework is one way to achieve this. To ensure that the Competency Framework accurately captures the core knowledge and skills required to be an effective mental health promotion practitioner, we would like people already working in mental health promotion or related fields like health promotion and public health to provide their feedback on a Consultation Draft we have developed.

CBR Health and Wellbeing Study

The ACT Health Directorate has launched a new study, CBR Health and Wellbeing, which collects information about the health and wellbeing of Canberrans. The study will be launched as a pilot to help ACT Health better understand the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ Canberrans. LGBTIQ+ people experience major health disparities compared to the general population, which are often underreported in health surveys. The term LGBTIQ+ is respectfully used as an umbrella term and is not intended to be limited to only those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and/or queer. The study is open until 30 November.

Haig Park Community Art Installation Survey 🌳

This initiative, generously supported by the City Renewal Authority, aims to blend the vibrant spirit of our community with the animals we share our city with. We're excited to involve you in the creative process by asking you to choose the animals you'd most like to see featured in this public art installation. Your input will help shape the artistic expression that will breathe life into Haig Park and enrich the experiences of all who visit. Join us in making Haig Park a more vibrant and inspiring place to gather and connect. Your participation is not just a survey; it's an opportunity to leave your mark in our city park.

MHCC ACT Events and Training 

Upcoming events

Training and workshops 

• Introduction to Grant Writing 30 November, 9.30am - 4.30pm

• Alcohol Brief Intervention training for community sector workers 4 December, 1-4.30pm

• ACTCOSS Information Sessions: Fee-Free Tafe 101 7 December , 11am - 12pm, Online

• Lifeline Canberra - ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 7 December

• Mental Health First Aid - standard 2-day course 20 February 2024, CIT Bruce

• Lifeline Canberra - Dealing with People in Difficult Situations 30 January

• Lifeline Canberra - Accidental Counsellor, Canberra, Multiple dates 

Conferences and forums  

• 2023 STOP Domestic Violence Conference, Hobart, 27-29 November.

• Safer Girls Safer Women - Big Meeting 2023, Sydney and Online, 6 November 

• 15th Annual Professional Conference Organisers Association Conference & Exhibition 2023 10-12 December, Adelaide

• NDS Executive Leaders Conference 2023 Melbourne, 11-12 December

• 2024 Frontline Mental Health Conference Gold Coast, 4-5 March.

• Elsie Conference: Celebrating 50 years of women's refuges in Australia Sydney, 15 - 16 March 

• 2024 Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference 18-20 March, Gold Coast

• Perspectives 2024, Online, 19 - 20 March

• Annual Mental Health Services Forum 9 - 10 March, Sydney 

• AddictionZ 2024, Breaking the Barriers Conference 29 April - 1 May, Gold Coast

• National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024 30 April - 2 May

• MHomentum 2024 22-24 May, Gold Coast

• 34th Annual Mental Health Services Conference, 27 - 30 August, Canberra 

• 17th National Rural Health Conference, Perth, 16-18 September 2024. (Save the date, link to come)

Other 

• For Our Elders - NAIDOC Concert Dinner 25 November, 6pm - 9:30pm 

• World AIDS Day 2023 1 December, 8:00am - 10am

• Landcare Festival of Nature Held throughout spring.

• CAHMA - ATODA art exhibit Bid for art created by CAHMA clients and CAHMA's NDIS clients. All artists are people with lived experience of alcohol and other drug use and/or mental health issues. All artwork is for sale and all proceeds go to the artists. The art is currently on display at ATODA and can be viewed by arrangement.

Audrey Fagan Board Traineeship

The Board Traineeship Program aims to support women to develop the skills and expertise in order to increase their participation in decision-making and leadership roles. The Board Traineeship Program will commence in February 2024 and will run over 5 months. The program is free to all participants. Preference will be given to women from diverse backgrounds, women who have been out of the workforce for an extended period, women who are seeking to get into leadership positions and women who work in male-dominated fields. Applications close 14 December.

Editorial policy
Opinions expressed in articles included in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the policy position of MHCC ACT. Information included in this newsletter is for general information purposes only and should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular service.

Our mailing address
Lvl 1, 20 Genge St, Canberra City, ACT 2601

Acknowledgement of Country
MHCC ACT acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians and Country and recognises their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.