In this Sector Update, find:

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

Our next Sector Update will be on 1 September. Let us know if you have anything you'd like us to include by replying to this email.

There has been a lot of wonderful activity in the mental health and healthy community space this fortnight. And lots to look forward to as well.

Two weeks ago, we released our submission on the ACT Preventive Health Action Plan 2023-2025. We congratulated the ACT government for prioritising prevention as they plan for a “Healthy Canberra”. However, we also identified significant gaps in the Action Plan. There were missing action items for priority populations, mental health, climate change, and equitable access. It is also missing actions on other priority issues, such as loneliness and isolation, lived experience, stigma and discrimination.

Preventative health must get to the root causes of illness. This means paying close attention to our community, society, economy, and environment. We will continue working to ensure that these critical issues are central in health planning in the ACT.

We were pleased to reflect the voices of our members – your experiences, and your expertise – in building our submission, and we thank you for the excellent input we received.

In the last fortnight I also had the pleasure of speaking at a federal parliamentary roundtable on mental health in custodial settings, alongside Julie Tongs from Winnunga. The roundtable was hosted by the office of Senator Lidia Thorpe and attended by Minister for Health Mark Butler, and cross-benchers Dai Le, Zali Steggall and Monique Ryan, alongside other MPs and Senators from all parties. I’m excited to be progressing our advocacy in this important space.

Right now, we’re finalising our submission for the NDIS review, which has consisted of a huge amount of research and consultation. In the submission, we have put forward a vision of a more equitable NDIS and disability sector generally.

Coming up, next month we will be meeting Ministers Mark Butler and Emma McBride alongside peaks around the country for our federal Advocacy Day. I’m looking forward to these opportunities to emphasise the importance of community-managed mental health and particularly to discuss the unmet psychosocial needs in our community, and the critical role of community-managed health services in meeting these needs.

Finally – if you are an executive leader in our sector, don’t forget to sign up for our suicide prevention workshop on 29^th August. You can read more and sign up via Humanitix.

- Melanie Poole, CEO MHCC ACT

In the news

Meet your 2023 Lifeline Women of Spirit | HerCanberra

Demand for Lifeline services spiking to highest ever levels amid cost-of-living crisis | The Guardian

'Screwed up': There is 'virtually no part of Australia' these people can afford to rent in | SBS News

Group therapy helps scientists cope with challenging 'climate emotions' | The Conversation

How free public payphones are proving to be a lifeline for thousands of Australians | SBS News

Disability inclusion act proposed by Labor backbencher | The Canberra Times

Ground-breaking report into restrictive practices | DSC

'It’s something I do not wish on anybody': Report details the harsh impacts of waiting for social housing | ABC News

Addressing misinformation, and showcasing support in the health sector for The Voice | Croakey

Mental health outcomes after bushfire exposure examined in new study | Riotact

Why The Voice is a health issue | ABC Radio National

Planning and consultations

National Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Bodies - open for co-design

The co‑design of two new national mental health lived experience peak bodies: one representing consumers, and the other representing families, carers and kin opens today.

This is an opportunity to collaborate and shape the peaks’ role, principles, and structure together. 

The Department of Health and Aged Care has engaged The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) to guide and facilitate the co-design process in partnership with people with a lived or living experience. This will build on previous work and support the Australian Government’s commitment to provide $7.5 million to establish the peak bodies to ensure diverse lived experience voices are central to mental health policy discussions. Further information on the co-design process and ways you can be involved is available on the TACSI National Peaks Project Hub and the Department’s website.

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.

EOIs close 18 August.

National Public Co-Design for Consensus Statement Phase 2 Families Pathway

Are you a parent living with mental ill-health or a partner of a parent who has lived-experience or a child or family member of a parent/s with lived-experience?

We would like to invite you to participate in the Public Co-Design for the Consensus Statement Phase 2 as part of the Roadmap for The ALIVE National Centre for Research Translation.

Suicide Prevention & Intervention Framework AMC & ACT Court Cells Guideline Forum

Have you experienced incarceration at the AMC?  Do you know of any mental health consumers who have? 

The Network is holding a Forum for consumers with lived experience of mental illness on Tuesday 5 September 2023 from 1pm to 2.30pm regarding the attached Suicide Prevention & Intervention Framework AMC & ACT Court Cells Guideline.

This forum will be held in person and via Zoom and will be an opportunity for you to provide feedback to the Guideline.

If you are a consumer and you would like to participate please send your RSVP to policy@actmhcn.org.au by Friday 1 September 2023. If you are an organisation, please forward this invitation to your members with lived experience of mental illness or contact policy@actmhcn.org.au

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 

• Introduction to Volunteering - VolunteeringACT 22 August, 10am-12pm

• Inclusive Volunteering for Organisations - VolunteeringACT 31 August, 10am - 12pm

• Capital Region Community Services presents Wear It Purple Day celebration “A Night With the Arts” 25 August, 4-7pm

• Understanding the ACT Integrity Commission information session - ACTCOSS 7 September, 12-1pm

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

• CDNet Community of Practice on Co-design 22 August

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

• Co - Design 4-week intensive course 21 August - 11 September, Zoom

• ACT Climate Change Council - Understanding perspectives of the ACT Community Sector - ACTCOSS 25 August, 10.30am-12pm

• Free Leadership Webinar Series 7 September, 4 October, 22 November

• Working Together For Our Booris Symposium - ACTCOSS 31 August 2023, QT Hotel Canberra

• Workforce and Training Issues in the Disability Sector | Western Sydney University In-person/Online, 31 August 12-1pm

Conferences and forums  

• 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.

• Seniors Expo – COTA ACT 21 September, Canberra

• 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.

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

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

Other 

• Science Week Panel Discussion: Dying, Death and Disposal - Libraries ACT 18 August (today), 6pm

• Self-managing your NDIS plan | Imagine More 30 August 12-2pm

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

Grants

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.

ACT Adult and Community Education (ACE) grants program

The ACT ACE grants program provides funding for the delivery of quality foundation skills training in accessible and inclusive community settings, to support Canberrans experiencing barriers to learning, training and work. The program will provide funding of up to $100,000 for successful applicant organisations to deliver foundation skills training in accessible and inclusive community settings. Find out more about the ACE grants program.

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

Other opportunities

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. 

Storytelling Event for People Living with Disability - Expressions of Interest

The Disability Royal Commission finished taking submissions in December but the impact of the Commission is ongoing and people still have stories to tell. Relationships Australia Canberra & Region Disability Royal Commission counselling and Support Service (DRCCS)  have joined This is my Brave Australia (TIMBA) to invite you to join us in a creative storytelling event for people living with disability, their families, supporters and workers. We look forward to learning about others lived experiences through storytelling, art, poetry, music, or any way you wish to share!

If you have a story to share through words, dance, art, comedy or any other medium, let us know! Please contact Miah or Bex at Relationships Australia on disabilitysupport@racr.org.au or call (02) 6923 9100 for any questions, ideas, or further information.

Student Counsellor Job

ANU Counselling is seeking Psychologists or Mental Health Social Workers to join our team of Student Counsellors. The position primarily entails the provision of individual counselling to students. It requires professional expertise in psychological counselling practices and young adult mental health. An understanding of a broad range of personal, psychological, life stage, cultural and study related issues and the ability to adopt appropriate counselling frameworks is essential for this position. Apply by 11 September.

Resources

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.