The latest news from Arafmi No images? Click here Irene Clelland Hello everyone, Spotlight on Self-Care5 minute momentThose who were able to attend the Carer Forum would have had the lovely experience of doing the Golden Eagle Sequence. This simple sequence helps to calm the nervous system in just a few minutes. For anyone interested in practicing this calming sequence at home, as well as those who haven't yet had the chance to experience it, click the link below to watch Sue guide you through the practice What's in the NewsEach month explore a selection of articles we've curated especially for you. Advocacy Team UpdateNew Community of PracticeInvitations to attend an information session will be sent out shortly to those who have expressed their interest in Arafmi’s new system advocacy Community of Practice. In this Community of Practice, we’ll share ideas and information about how to improve the support system for mental health carers. Carer Support UpdateYouth eCPR: A big thank you to our young carersWe’re so grateful to have had such incredible young carers (aka our 18-25-year-old superheroes) join Australia’s first Youth Emotional CPR (eCPR) certification workshop. Hosted by Arafmi with Emotional CPR-Australia, this workshop provided essential skills to connect, empower, and revitalise - helping us be there for others emotionally, especially during tough times. Huge thanks also
to Aesop Mount Gravatt for the gift bags and Visible Ink for venue support.
Upcoming Free Workshop
New Staff - Welcome Tina and CherylIn October, Tina and Cheryl joined Arafmi in the Carer Support Team. They are very experienced practitioners with many years working at not-for-profit organisations. Tina Thomas Cheryl Mascali My name is Cheryl, and I have recently joined the team over at Teneriffe. I am excited to be part of such a wonderful organisation that recognises the role that unpaid carers have in the lives of the people they love and support with mental health challenges. I am still very much learning my role as I support carers over the phone and in one-to-one sessions. I look forward to slowly meeting everyone and continuing to grow and learn with Arafmi. Arafmi Celebrates QLD Mental Health Week and Carers WeekArafmi hosted and participated in over 18 events during QLD Mental Health Week and Carers Week in October, including our annual Mental Health Carer Forum and a Carer Gala Dinner, in partnership with Carers QLD and Wellways Carer Gateway. Thank you to all of the carers and partner organisations who made these events such a success and a big shout-out to the Arafmi Carer Support, Advocacy and Marketing teams for all of their hard work in organising these events. It was a wonderful collective effort to promote and celebrate mental health and wellbeing and our amazing, unpaid mental health carers. Arafmi’s 2024 Mental Health Carer Forum Wrap-UpOur Mental Health Carer Forum on 16 October provided an important opportunity for mental health carers to hear from leaders in the mental health system, connect with other carers and learn how to utilise their Lived-Living Experience to advocate for better support for themselves and the people they care for. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We thank everyone who contributed to making the day a success. Carer Forum Round Table Discussions A huge thank you to everyone who joined the Carer Forum round table discussions. Your insights are guiding the Advocacy Team’s priorities and future focus areas.
For more information about the event including round table discussions and guest speakers please visit our website. This includes links to resources from Sue Goodwin's presentation and key speaker presentations. Carer Support Events and EducationThese free Arafmi workshops and groups are designed specifically for people who care for a friend or family member experiencing mental ill-health. End of Year Workshop for CarersThe end of the year can be a stressful and emotional time. This free online workshop involves sharing stories, tips and tricks and exploring situations together to support ourselves and others through this time. Regional Coffee Connect GroupTownsville - Coffee and Connect Create and Connect for CarersCarers come together at the Arafmi Carer Respite Hub for 2 hours of relaxing creativity to take time out for self-care and connection. When: 26 November, 9:30am - 11:30am, New Carer GroupsArafmi has two new groups for unpaid carers offering emotional or practical support to friends, family or kin experiencing mental ill-health:
Murrumba Downs - Coffee and Connect Cleveland - Support Group To find out more email carersupport@arafmi.com.au Arafmi Carer Event CalendarExplore Arafmi's free support programs. Our calendar includes tailored Opportunities for CarersWin Theatre Tickets to Julius CaesarWIN a night at the theatre to see Julius Caesar, performed and generously donated by the creatives of Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble. To enter, tell us in a few words, why winning a free ticket to the theatre would be meaningful to you. To be eligible you must be a mental health carer participating in Arafmi's programs. Companion Cards are accepted so your friend, kin or family member experiencing mental ill-health can use the winning ticket and you can accompany them to the performance for free. Hurry, entries close Wednesday 6 November! Winners will be contacted on Thursday 7 November. Survey: Regional, Rural, and Remote Areas Independent Disability AdvocacyThe Queensland Independent Disability Advocacy Network (QIDAN) wants to hear from disability service providers and individuals with disabilities, and their families in regional, rural, and remote areas. Share your experiences about needing and/or accessing independent disability advocacy through this survey and help shape future support. Carer, Family and Kin Survey - The Alive National Centre for ResearchIf you're a carer, family, or kin (aged 16+) supporting someone with mental ill-health, share what matters most to you in the 2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study. It will help to generate and prioritise their mental health research topics. This year there are four ways to participate: online survey, photo interview, crowd sourcing or emotion mapping. Always here for youYou can call Arafmi’s 24 hour Carer Support Line to share your feelings, receive support, find new resources and learn helpful coping skills to help you in your caring role. It’s comforting to know that when you need to talk – someone who understands will be there – at any hour. Call us on 1300 554 660 (Brisbane) or 1800 351 881 ( Regional QLD) Arafmi acknowledges Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Nations peoples of Australia and recognises their continuing connection to country, waters, kin, and communities. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and future and are committed to ensuring that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples voices are heard and respected across Queensland. |