In this Sector Update, find:

• The CEO blog, from Melanie Poole
• Sector News
• Upcoming events from the MHCC ACT and in Canberra
• Grants, jobs, and other opportunities

Our next Sector Update will be on 18 August. Let us know if you have anything you'd like us to include by replying to this email.

It’s been lovely to see some sunny days in Canberra as we zip into August. Feels like spring is (almost) on the way!

We’ve been encouraged by the news this week that the Northern Territory will become the first Australian jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility. The age will be raised from 10 to 12 years old, starting November. Children who would otherwise have ended up in the justice system – a cohort who almost universally come from backgrounds of significant trauma, and the majority of whom also experience neurocognitive disability, will instead be referred to psycho-social and disability support services, along with their families.

The ACT likewise will be raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12, then to 14 in July 2025.

To carry forward this, and other critical conversations focused on the justice/mental health policy intersection, I have been engaging with the ACTCOSS Justice Reform Working Group and its members, as well as the offices of the Inspector General and Public Advocate. It is fantastic to see how strong and active this group is.

Next week, I will be attending a federal parliamentary roundtable, hosted by the office of Senator Lidia Thorpe and attended by a number of MPs and Senators from all parties, to discuss mental health in custodial settings. I, with the wonderful Julie Tongs from Winnunga, will speak about the ACT and the Alexander Maconochie Centre prison at this forum. I look forward to continuing MHCC’s advocacy in this space and would welcome your conversations and feedback – please get in touch.

You will by now likely have heard the news that mental health commissioning has also been extended by at least 12 months. This gives us an opportunity to continue coming together as a sector and further developing our vision of what a strong sector-wide outcomes framework could look like. Coming up in late September, we will be hosting an outcomes workshop to support members in reporting on the impact of their services.

The extension gives us the opportunity to strengthen our coordination as a sector, and I am keen to ensure that MHCC does all we can to support this process. We want to hear about your experiences with the commissioning process and any suggestions you may have of what you’d appreciate from MHCC going forward. Again, feel free to reach out.

- Melanie Poole, CEO MHCC ACT

In the news

Plea for urgent youth mental health overhaul | newsGP

'Being lonely is like being hungry or thirsty': Why aren't Australians socialising like they used to? | ABC News

Nicole called an ambulance for help. She ended up shackled to a bed | The Age

Governments urged to protect the rights of people with disability and stop the cruel and traumatic use of forced restraints | Croakey

On the wellbeing framework, and ways forward | Croakey

“You don’t want to disregard the impact that you have because children remember you.” | HerCanberra

Psychiatrists expose ‘alarming’ youth healthcare issues | Geelong Advertiser

Replay event: The Opening Opportunities conference | Imagine More

Content Warning for the following two articles: Distressing accounts of traumatic incidents

In Australian mental health units, women are drugged up, dehydrated and retraumatised. Now they're speaking out | ABC News

Nicole called an ambulance for help. She ended up shackled to a bed | The Age

Planning and consultations

NDIS General Issues Inquiry

The Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS is seeking information about the implementation, performance, governance, administration and expenditure of the NDIS. In particular, the committee invites input from participants, their carers and family members, service providers, and representative organisations. 

Perinatal Mental Health project - Consumer Voice invitation

Mental Health Policy and Strategy at the ACT Health Directorate are responsible for a number of perinatal Mental Health reforms including ACT commitments with the Maternity in Focus Strategy as well as the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement–ACT Bilateral Schedule.

The Perinatal Mental Health project will be progressed over the next 2-3 years via three streams of work:

1: Deliver a residential mental health service for the mother/birth person and baby unit following an initial scoping study and model of care (MoC) development

2: Universal perinatal mental health screening initiative

3: Improve referral pathways, including from primary care to Mental Health services, and Non-Government Organisations (NGO) provider perinatal Mental Health supports.

ACT Health Directorate are also progressing work on setting up a Reference Group for the Perinatal Mental Health project. They currently have an Expression Of Interest (EOI) in collaboration with their Maternity in Focus colleagues on the ACT Government YourSay website Maternity in focus | YourSay ACT.

Call for nominations for new Education Reference Group

ACT Mental Health Consumer Network is pleased to call for nominations for up to eight positions for our new Education Reference Group (ERG). 

Who: Nominations are welcomed from all consumers, not only people eligible to be Consumer Representatives. We encourage nominations from both new and longer-term members of the Network.

If you know a consumer who may be interested in nominating, but they are not yet a member, they can sign up for free. All consumers in the ACT have automatic right to primary membership upon lodging their completed membership application.

All ERG members receive a non-reportable reimbursement to cover the potential costs of their participation in meetings.

What: The role of the ERG is to provide lived experience expertise and advice to the Network’s consumer-driven Community Education Program (CEP), including its peer education arm.

The ERG’s functions include:

• Guiding the design, development and review of existing and new workshops and training.
• Monitoring, supporting and reviewing education projects.
• Making recommendations in relation to education projects where required.
• Identifying and discussing potential new education projects and opportunities.

The full list of functions and Terms of Reference can be provided on request to education@actmhcn.org.au. 

Help Women's Health Matters improve information on abortion in the ACT! 

Women’s Health Matters is establishing a Consumer Advisory Group to give us advice and review the information we develop from the perspective of people using health services in our community. We are excited to invite Expressions of Interest from women and gender-diverse Canberrans to be Consumer Advisors. Expressions of interest are open to any woman or gender diverse person in Canberra who is pro-choice and wants to contribute to improving access to information about pregnancy choices, including abortion.

Seeking participants

Survey: Co-creating Safe Spaces Project

The Co-Creating Safe Spaces project is led by A/Prof Michelle Banfield and a team of lived experience researchers based at The Australian National University. We are evaluating safe spaces and safe havens in Australia in collaboration with services and communities. The project is funded by a grant from Suicide Prevention Australia.

As a part of our research, we are seeking people from the community to fill in our anonymous online survey, to share their insights on services and support for people experiencing emotional distress and/or suicidal crisis. Anyone over 16 years is welcome to contribute, whether or not they have heard about or used safe spaces.

All questions are optional, the survey will take around 10-30 minutes depending on your choices.

Safer Girls Safer Women National Survey of People with Disability

Be part of co-creating a future where people with disability, inclusive of all identities, experience social and sexual safety everywhere and always. There are 11 questions on this survey. Closes Friday 18 August.

Consciousness and the phenomenology of psychosis survey

ANU is seeking participants for a study exploring how changes in consciousness affect first-person experience of psychosis.

MHCC Events

Upcoming events

Training and workshops 

• ACTCOSS - Strategic Cultural Awareness with Grant Sarra 14 August or 16 August

• Menslink Midweekers - starts 9 August 

• Lifeline Canberra - Dealing with People in Difficult Situations 7 September, 3 November, 30 January

• Dying to Know Day 2023: Things to Know Before You Go | Health Care Consumers Association Panel on end-of-life matters on 8 August, 1pm

• ACT Human Rights Commission Information Session | ACTCOSS 10 August

• The Growth Program: Find your voice 29 August, register by 14 August.

• CDNet Community of Practice on Co-design 22 August

• Introduction to Grant Writing Workshop for the ACT Community Sector | ACTCOSS 20 September

Conferences and forums  

• YWCA She Leads Conference Canberra, 4 August.

• Free CME Conference – Body Image and Body Dysmorphia – 11 RACGP CPD Education Hours – Waratah Private Hospital, Sydney, 12 August.

• 33rd Annual Mental Health Services Conference, Adelaide, 15 to 18 August, hosted by the MHS Learning Network. 

• LGBTIQA+ Leadership Summit, Sydney, 22 to 25 August, hosted by the Leadership Institute. 

• The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association Workplace Mental Health Symposium Gold Coast, 7-8 September.

• Australian Psychosis Conference 2023, Sydney, 11 to 13 September, hosted by Psychosis Australia.

• Women in Leadership Summit 2023, Sydney, 23-26 October.

• Indigenous Wellbeing Conference, Darwin, 30 to 31 October, hosted by the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association.

• 2023 Rural Mental Health Conference Albury, 8-10 November

• The Australian Association of Social Workers Health Symposium 16 November, Online.

• Third annual Australian Disability Service Conference, Melbourne, 23 November   hosted by One Community. 

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

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

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

Other 

• African Australian Awards, Art, & Cultural Showcase, Phillip, 30 September 5-11.30PM

Grants and Opportunities 

Capital of Equality Grants Program

The Capital of Equality Grants Program has been redesigned to better respond to community needs. The program aims to support and strengthen Canberra’s LGBTIQ+ communities. $700,000 has been allocated to the 2023 and 2024 grant rounds. Applications are currently open for the LGBTIQ+ Leadership stream until 3 September.

Women’s grants

Women’s grants support and assist women who face barriers to re-enter the workforce, empower women and girls to succeed, stop violence and aims to inspire young women to enhance their skills and knowledge. Grant rounds currently open:

• Women's return to work grant

Out From the Mist

Out From The Mist is a photography, short movie and music competition.  This competition hopes to capture the breadth of diversity, from the experiences of pain and suffering, caring and empathy for loved ones, through to the elation of conquering obstacles.
You don’t need to be a professional or hold any qualifications to enter. All stories are valid and welcome. 

Competition closes 1 September, with the awards night on World Mental Health Day on 10 October. Find out more. 

Scholarship Applications Open - Nominate yourself or a colleague

Women & Leadership Australia is dedicated to supporting women leaders achieve their leadership potential, and we are pleased to be able to offer scholarships of up to $7,000 for women working in the Health Sector. The programs are designed for women with limited leadership experience through to executive leaders and scholarships are available across four key levels. This opportunity is open to all women across the Health Sector and we encourage you to make this information available via your usual channels.

Resources

Women's Safety Program: enrolments open for Group 3

The Women's Safety Program is a free 12-week program that provides 3 self-defence lessons and weekly workshops for vulnerable women living in the ACT and surrounds. The weekly workshops explore topics such as respectful relationships, communicating with confidence, financial wellbeing, trauma, and online safety.

Eligibility is broad and we welcome any woman over the age of 18 who:

• is living with vision impairment; or
• has a sensory, neurological, or physical disability / impairment; or
• is simply feeling unsafe or vulnerable because of life challenges such as:
  • lived experience of abuse, assault, bullying or trauma;
  • growing up in a home with domestic and family violence or substance abuse;
  • being under financial hardship or stress;
  • coming from a diverse cultural or linguistic background;
  • living with an invisible chronic illness or mental health condition; or
  • any number of circumstances or experiences that have landed a blow to self-confidence and sense of security.

Group 3 weekly classes are on Thursday afternoons from 1pm-4pm with light refreshments provided. The self-defence classes are on three Saturdays.

Places are limited. Enrol or find out more.

Capital Region Community Services - Accepting new referrals!

Wellbeings is a multidisciplinary, allied health practice that believes in accessible, holistic mental health care for clients of all ages, needs, and backgrounds.

We are delighted to announce we are accepting new referrals with the commencement of Molly Havyatt, Registered Psychologist and Psychology Registrar.

Find out more information here.

Bringing Up Great Kids

The Bringing Up Great Kids program is a mindful, reflective, and respectful parenting program with a focus on building loving and nurturing relationships between parents/carers and their children. The program supports parents and carers to:

• Learn more about the origins of their own parenting style and how it can be more effective.
• Consider the relationship between a child's stage of neurological development and their behavior.
• Identify important messages they want to convey to their child and how to achieve this.
• Understand the messages that children communicate to their parents and how they do this.
• Discover how to overcome some of the obstacles that are getting in the way of being the kind of parent they would like to be.
• Discover ways for parents to take care of themselves and to find support when they need it.

8 Aug to 12 Sept 2023 (Every Tuesday from 10:00 to 12:30)

UnitingCare Kippax, Cnr Luke St and Hardwick Cres, Holt, ACT

Cost: Supported by UnitingCare Kippax

Contact: 0451 314 195 - Please text to register.

Bereaved by Suicide Support Group 

Lifeline Canberra facilitates a Support Group for those Bereaved by Suicide. This support group provides a forum for emotional support. The next group starts Tuesday 22 August 2023. There are six meetings on a fortnightly basis from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. 

The program will accommodate adults over the age of 18 who are between three months and three years bereaved. Central to the program is the provision of a safe and validating environment to enable connections, normalising grief and healthy coping. The cost of the program is a one-off $26 donation to Lifeline Canberra.

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.