In the March edition of MHPN Connect:

Read the key findings form MHPN's recently published peer-review article

Register for our upcoming professional development webinar: 

• Improving your practice: Working across sectors

Join one of our NEW national, online networks

Browse upcoming network meetings

Start your own network to access funding

Listen to our popular podcasts:

• The Nexus between Violence and Mental Health
• Building Engagement and Trust through Communication

Study finds that MHPN networks boost mental health workers’ wellbeing

A new study by La Trobe University and MHPN shows that the wellbeing of Australia’s stretched and under-pressure mental health workforce can be improved when they can connect both professionally and personally.

The study was featured in an article: Sustaining Australia’s mental health workforce: personal and professional benefits of participation in the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) network program, published in Advances in Mental Health. It outlines evidence indicating that participating in MHPN's National Network Program has great benefits for practitioners.

Webinars

Improving your practice: Working across sectors

Monday 31 March| 7.00 - 8.15 PM (AEDT)

*NEW* enhanced webinar format
Attend this moderated session to see four esteemed practitioners respond in-situ to hypothetical scenarios about people living with diverse, changing and complex needs.

Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation

Recording available

Networks

New online, national networks

💻 MindOut LGBTIQ + & Mental Health MHPN
Hosted in collaboration with MindOut, this network is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and improving mental health outcomes for LGBTIQ+ people via a series of online meetings focusing on best practices for working with LGBTIQ+ individuals in mental health and suicide prevention settings. 
Attend the first meeting:
Latest Insights into LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Suicide and Self-Harm
Thursday, 13 March | 5 - 6 PM (AEDT)

💻 Critical wellbeing studies MHPN
This network will provide a collaborative space for critical reflection on the "mental health" system and topics related to wellbeing. The aim is to examine how power influences how we know, what we do, and how we understand ourselves and others in the “mental health” space.
Attend the first meeting:
Introducing critical wellbeing studies
Thursday, 13 March | 2 - 3:30 PM (AEDT)

💻 Australian Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Mental Health Practitioners (ACMHP) MHPN
The network aims to connect and support mental health practitioners from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and provide a collaborative space for knowledge-sharing, professional development, and advocacy, focusing on culturally responsive mental health care.
Attend the first meeting:
Cultural Differences in Appraisals of Control and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms 
Thursday, 13 March | 3:30 - 5 PM (AEDT)

What's on

350+ interdisciplinary mental health networks meet all over the country and undertake professional development and peer support about a range of topics, relevant to their needs. View upcoming meetings below, or find a network near you.

NATIONAL

Online PMDD Peer Supervision - Peer Supervision Meeting | Monday, 10 March
Online Early Career Lunch and Learn - What is the essential element for effective therapy? | Friday, 21 March

NEW SOUTH WALES

NEW Macarthur - Network Relaunch! Local Service Exchange & Capacity Mapping
New England North West Suicide Prevention - Puberty and Menopause Blues: Women's Health and Suicidality | Wednesday, 12 March

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Perth Therapeutic Arts Focussed - Healing Beyond the Physical: An Interactive Energy Healing Experience | Wednesday, 12 March
Neuro & Queer Affirmative Network - Introducing and Planning the Neuro & Queer Affirmative Network |Saturday, 15 March

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

CALD Mental Health Professionals Network - Adelaide - CALD Background Mental Health Professionals Network | Wednesday, 19 March

QUEENSLAND

Sunshine Coast Women's Mental Health - Practitioners supporting women on their mental health recovery journeys |Wednesday, 12 March
NEW Brisbane Older Adults Mental Health Network - Network Re-Launch! | Thursday, 13 March

VICTORIA

Mornington - March Meeting | Tuesday, 11 March
Victoria Psycho-oncology - Working towards a good end of life in oncology | Monday, 17 March
Wellington - New Years - Social Evening | Monday, 24 March
Outer Eastern Perinatal and Infant - Supporting Birth, Recovery & Early Parenting through Trauma Release Exercises | Monday, 24 March

If these topics interest you and you live in the area, join the network via your MHPN account to get involved!

Pictured from left to right: Victoria Park MHPN; Rockingham/Kwinana MHPN; Murrindindi MHPN.

Start a network

For mental health practitioners wanting to feel more connected to their practitioner community, MHPN provides you with access to networking, CPD and peer support opportunities in your local area, at no cost!

If you'd like to bring these funded opportunities to your community, put your hand up to Coordinate a network. You'll be able to tailor meeting content to tackle service gaps, improve referral pathways and support the wellbeing and connectedness of local practitioners.

MHPN provide strategic, administrative and financial support every step of the way!

We understand that every local community is unique, especially in more isolated areas of Australia. We’re proud to support networks no matter where they are or how small the group – even with just 4 practitioners.

Questions? Request a call back from one of MHPN's experienced Project Officers who can talk you through the process or launch your application below.

Podcasts

The Nexus between Violence and Mental Health

Learn how individuals with mental illnesses are often overrepresented in situations of violence and incarceration, and the challenges of providing care for this vulnerable group.

Building Engagement and Trust through Communication

Explore the unique challenges of communicating in large, multidisciplinary teams and gain practical insights into building trust, empowering lived experience, and encouraging collaboration.

External opportunities

PHN activities

Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) for Mental Healthcare Training Workshop
Gold Coast Primary Health Network 

The workshop will introduce IAR and the development of the National Guidance; provide an orientation to the 8 holistic assessment domains; explore clinical judgement, supported decision-making and application of the IAR in referral, assessment, and intake settings.

Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery Interest Group - Webinar
South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network 

This meeting is an opportunity for like-minded GPs, Nurses, Pharmacists, Psychologists, other Allied Health professionals, and Practice Managers who have an interest in their local community's resilience, to discuss issues, share ideas, identify solutions and contribute to COORDINARE's ongoing disaster management work.

Breaking barriers: Help shape the future of alcohol and other drug support in South Western Sydney
South Western Sydney Primary Health Network 

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) is bringing together healthcare and service providers, those with lived experience of AOD use and the wider community to discuss service needs, gaps and priorities in a series of Local Health Forums in April.

IAR-DST National Training Monday 24th of March 2025
Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network 

Join CESPHN for training in the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Decision Support Tool (DST) for Mental Healthcare. GPs practicing in the CESPHN region are eligible to receive a $300 payment for completion of this training and associated surveys if attending a session before June 30th 2025.

The Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri and the
Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nation, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which our office is situated. We also acknowledge Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.