WELCOME to another edition of WAAMH eNews.

With the federal election now decided and a new government in Canberra, we await a comprehensive national response to mental health. The sector will assess the success of the National Mental Health Commission inquiry planned by the new government by the real changes in the life circumstances of people with mental health issues and their families that result.

Mental Health Week is nearly upon us and we have received overwhelming responses from our members registering their local events in the community.

There are still spots available at WAAMH’s opening celebration in Perth, where the premiere of an Australian film based on a true story, Sunnyboys will screen for the first time in WA. The closing celebrations in Bunbury and Esperance are attracting attention and our Workplace Speaker Series in Central Park during Mental Health Week, promises to impress.  Keep an eye out for the flyers with all the details so you can choose which events you would like to participate in.

Our new website went live late last month and I am very pleased with the results. Check out the new site at www.waamh.org.au. There are a range of new features, including a Hot Topics section where you can stay abreast of breaking news in the sector, an Events Calendar, online Service Directory to find community-managed mental health service providers, and a much easier way for people and organisations to become members and renew membership online.

I would like to formally welcome our three new members this month, Advanced Personnel Management, Council of Official Visitors and Mentally Healthy WA, Curtin University.

In other news, work has begun on WA's 10-year Mental Health Service plan, the National Recovery Framework was released and progress on the merger of the Mental Health Commission and the Drug and Alcohol Office continues to track slowly. You can read all about these topics below.

Enjoy your September edition of eNews and I hope to see you around October 6-13 during Mental Health Week.

Rod Astbury
Executive Director
Western Australian Association for Mental Health

NO doubt you are aware The Liberal National coalition, led by Tony Abbott won the federal election over the weekend.
The Liberal Party recently released "The Coalition's Policy for Efficient Mental Health Research and Services" and pledged to invest $18 million over four years to mental health provider, Orygen to establish a National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health.

This centre aims to:

• Perform “cutting edge clinical trials”, using new treatments to better understand mental illness amongst young people
• Invest in new research to explore how better mental health can lift the nation's economic prosperity
• Attract a new generation of mental health workers
• Provide training, carer support and information resources to up to 12,000 mental health clinicians and service planners by 2020
• Assess the effectiveness of existing mental health programs
• Invest $5 million in the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre to establish an e-mental health platform
• Implement electronic services for young people to access 24 hour anonymous care

Mental Health Council of Australia response

Comprehensive reform, however, rests with the inquiry which is anticipated to start now the election hype has calmed down. WAAMH will keep you up to date with how the Mental Health Commission inquiry under the new government progresses. The Mental Health Council of Australia has called on any inquiry to address a number of items:

• Identify the full range of costs of different types of mental illness, for consumers, their families and carers, government, business, and the community as a whole
• Consider the economic and non-economic benefits of reduced discrimination, increase workforce and education participation, and increase community wellbeing
• Consider the effectiveness of current investments in mental health and other related systems, and the nature and extent of met and unmet need
• Clarify roles and accountability for Commonwealth, State and Territory governments
• Identify possible barriers to care for people with mental illness and their carers
• Develop concrete plans for improving service delivery efficiency.

THE 10 year mental health services plan was an election commitment of the state government and is a major plank of the government’s response to the Stokes Review recommendations. Find more information about the Stokes Review here.

It aims to develop a blueprint for WA’s mental health services within the strategic directions set by “Mental Health 2020” and will draw on the work done for the National Mental Health Planning Framework. Consultation groups have been established in the following; Promotion & Prevention, Community Support Services, Community Clinical Services, Bed Based Services and Alcohol & Other Drugs plus a Consumer & Carer Reference group.

The first stage of the plan is expected to be completed by December 2013.  WAAMH will keep members informed of developments. Members may also be interested in the 10 year road map of mental health services, where work is underway at the Council of Australian Governments level. Read more information here.

THE National Mental Health Recovery Framework was released at the TheMHS Conference on September 1st. It has been published in four guiding documents:  A Guide for Practitioners, A Policy and Theory Report, a Consumer & Carer Guide and a Practitioner Guide. The documents can be sourced here.

Members may also be interested in the position paper on recovery for WA community mental health services on WAAMH's website here.

THE state government announced its intention to merge the Mental Health Commission and the Drug and Alcohol Office soon after it was re-elected in February.

There has been slow progress since then; the structural issues involved being complex. WAAMH supports the better integration of services to people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol and other drug issues and their families and is focussed on ensuring the structural change contributes to that outcome.

This has not been the case in all other jurisdictions where amalgamation has occurred and WAAMH is eager to ensure the lessons have been learned from these. We will keep members informed.

Sunnyboys is based on the true story of one man's journey as he emerges from a 30-year battle with schizophrenia.

This inspiring story will screen for the first time in WA at the Opening Celebration of Mental Health Week on Sunday October 6th at Luna Palace in Leederville.

Sunnyboys director, Kaye Harrison is flying over for the WA premiere to talk about the making of the film and answer audience questions.

DON'T miss out on Turn Blue 4 a Day on October 10 during Mental Health Week. Head along to the Murray Street Mall in Perth's CBD and be part of this popular event. Enjoy the entertainment, receive a free blue balloon and discover a wealth of mental health information. Participate further by wearing something blue!

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WAAMH currently has two internal employment vacancies available.

Consultant Sector Development
Location: West Perth
Work Type: Fixed term contract negotiable hours full time / part time (38/week)

Make an impact. Take a supporting role in the development of community managed mental health services in an exciting period of growth, innovation and change!

A competitive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful applicant and will include 9.25% superannuation and generous salary packaging arrangements. 

The Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) is the peak body representing the Community Managed Mental Health sector in Western Australia, representing over one hundred organisations and individuals.

This position will support the development of the community managed mental health sector, assisting it to actively engage with mental health reform and deliver recovery-oriented, person-centred and family-inclusive services. It will do so by coordinating and delivering identified sector development initiatives that assist organisations to provide high quality services for the benefit of people with mental illness, their families and carers.
Key Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will fulfil the following responsibilities with some supervision in a small, cooperative team environment:

• Build and maintain effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders within the sector and with key sector partners
• Consult with and inform the sector on sector development issues and initiatives through a range of methods
• Contribute to the planning, coordination and implementation of key sector development initiatives to enhance the capacity of the WA community mental health sector
• Undertake policy and development research and analysis, prepare, and progress high quality reports, position papers, plans and submissions
• Represent WAAMH on identified government and community sector policy and sector development committees
• Undertake additional tasks as considered necessary and in consultation with the Manager Sector Development.

The closing date for applications is 5pm Friday, 20 September 2013.

If you would like more information, please contact: Coralie Flatters on 9420 7277.

Applications including a resume and statement addressing the requirements identified in this advertisement of no more than 1500 words should be made in word format to Ann Elliott at aelliott@waamh.org.au

Development Consultant Individual Placement & Support State Project
Location: West Perth
Work Type: Fixed term contract 0.5 time (19 hrs/week)

Make an impact. Take a supporting role in the development of the WA evidence-based Individual Placement & Support (IPS) state project in an exciting period of growth, innovation and change!

A competitive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful applicant and will include 9.25% superannuation and generous salary packaging arrangements. 

The Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) is the peak body representing the Community Managed Mental Health sector in Western Australia, representing over one hundred organisations and individuals.

This position will contribute to the development of the WA evidence-based Individual Placement & Support (IPS) state project, which will deliver improved access to employment for people with mental health issues through state-wide capacity building, development and technical assistance. It will assist the project to achieve sustainability through research, promotion, policy advice and advocacy of the IPS model and the state project to commonwealth and state governments, commercial, philanthropic and other stakeholders.
Orientation to the IPS model will be provided. Previous experience is desirable, but not essential.

Key Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will fulfil the following responsibilities with some supervision in a small, cooperative team environment:

• Investigate funding models for IPS technical assistance services in operation in other Australian states and internationally and assess their suitability for the WA service
• Thoroughly investigate, identify, assess, progress and secure potential commonwealth and state government, commercial and/or philanthropic funding options for the service
• Conduct a detailed analysis of the potential for a fee for service / part fee for service model
• Make recommendations to the IPS Steering Committee on a model or mix of models for the future funding of the service.
• Prepare proposals, submissions, business cases or other written material, as required to secure ongoing funding
• Consult with the project Steering Committee and other stakeholders, secure their support and advice and inform them of progress
• Undertake additional tasks as considered necessary and in consultation with the IPS State Project Lead.

The closing date for applications is COB Friday, 20 September 2013.

If you would like more information, please contact: Philleen Dickson, IPS State Project Lead, on 9420 7277.

Applications including a resume and statement addressing the Key Responsibilities identified in this advertisement of no more than 1500 words should be made in word format to Ann Elliott at aelliott@waamh.org.au.

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YOU are invited to be part of the FIRST EVER Happiness & its Causes Roadshow in WA this November!

Join in for one action packed conference day and a day of in-depth workshops. Be dazzled by a faculty of 20+ international, interstate and local speakers - leaders in psychology, science, education, business, spirituality, the arts and more!

Please find the full program of presentation and workshop details running November 7-8 here.

KEYNOTES INCLUDE:

• Associate Professor Michael F Steger, USA, coaching psychologist and international authority in the study of meaning and the quality of life
• Professor Michael Corballis, New Zealand, outstanding cognitive neuroscientist and science communicator
• Dr Sarah Edelman, acclaimed clinical psychologist and best-selling author of Change Your Thinking
• Dr Ian Gawler, Australia's most well known cancer survivor and mind-body medicine pioneer
• Dr Adam Fraser, innovative educator and researcher on human performance
• Dr Timothy Sharp, leading clinical psychologist and founder of The Happiness Institute
• Matthew Johnstone, best-selling author of I Had a Black Dog
• Sue Langley, thought leader and trainer in emotional intelligence and neuroleadership
• Dr Craig Hassed, GP, lecturer and author on holistic paths to wellbeing
• Maggie Hamilton, researcher, regular media commentator, internationally published author and keen observer of social trends

As an endorsing body, WAAMH has secured a 20% discount for all its members.
Book online using the promotion code WCXH or call 02 8719 5118 to register.
Workshops are also discounted and can be booked separately. Book online before September 27 to secure early bird prices. Registrations will remain open right up until November 7 and during the event.

LIFELINE WA chief executive officer Fiona Kalaf will talk about the unique nature of managing mental health in the fly-in-fly-out and drive-in-drive-out environment at Curtin University during Mental Health Week.

Date:  Tuesday 8 October
Time:   5.45pm for 6.00pm start
Venue: Norman Dufty Lecture Theatre, Building 210, Room 102, 
             Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley
RSVP: By Friday 4 October to marketing@health.curtin.edu.au or call 9266 9219.

About Fiona
Fiona Kalaf was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lifeline WA in January 2012, and since then has overseen the growth and expansion of the organisation into online crisis support services, mental health research, and increased community education programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the risk and preventative factors of suicide.

TODAY is annual R U OK?Day. The day prompts people to reach out to others, genuinely ask how they are, and make conversation.

There is plenty of advice on how to get involved in R U OK?Day on September 12, through the website which features ideas and resources for workplaces, schools and students.

Check it all out here.

VISIT the Mental Health Week pop-up stage at Curtin on Tuesday, October 9, as Curtin alumni comedians host a day of panel discussions, entertainment and presentations, targeting mental health and wellbeing for students.

Student panel discussions and guest presenters include author and Curtin student, Joshua Cunniffe talking about his personal journey.

Date: 9 Oct 2013     Time: 11:00 - 14:00
Location: Curtin University Bentley Campus, Atkinson Forum

For more information, please contact Matthew Darch on 9266 2641 or mat.darch@curtin.ed.au

ARE you interested in becoming a board member of Consumers of Mental Health WA?

Ideal candidates will have knowledge and experience in finance, governance, legal and a lived experience of mental health recovery and/or a commitment to and understanding of mental health recovery.

Responsibilities include attending monthly board meetings and actively participating in decision-making, representing CoMHWA and acting as an ambassador for the organisation, and developing effective partnerships with members and other relevant bodies.

Find out more at CoMHWA.