July edition
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In the July edition of MHPN Connect:
Read MHPN's Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
Find the best MHPN network type for you
Register for our upcoming professional development webinars:
- BPD: How to apply the principles of mentalization-based therapy in your practice
Listen to our podcast series:
- In The First Person: Living with Bipolar
- A Conversation About… Journalism and Mental Health
Learn about the new MHPN account social login feature
Reconciliation Action Plan launch!
MHPN are excited to announce the commencement of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) with endorsement from Reconciliation Australia!
Over 12 months, with support from Reconciliation Australia, MHPN's RAP Working Group reflected upon our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations, identifying steps to take towards better understanding the cultures, traditions and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We are looking forward to officially implementing our Reflect RAP from July 2024 to July 2025.
Networks
Find the network type to best support your practice
MHPN support over 300 networks of mental health practitioners all over Australia to meet and undertake professional development and peer support.
Did you know MHPN have different types of practitioner networks? Keep reading to find out which network is the right type for you! Most networks are free to join via your MHPN account.
Local MHPN networks
Local networks bring together a range of practitioners in a specific area to connect and learn about topics tailored to the needs of their community.
These networks can either have a general mental health focus and meet about a range of topics, or consistently meet about a particular area of mental health. Meetings can feature guest speaker presentations, networking events, case study discussions and more, meeting either online or in-person.
To find your nearest local network, follow the link below and use the search filter to narrow down networks in your area or field of interest.
State & national MHPN networks
State or nation-wide networks are run in partnership with a peak body organisation and meet to further knowledge about a specific mental health diagnosis or field.
To bridge geographical barriers, these networks meet online and bring together a wide range of practitioners who all work, or are interested, in a particular diagnosis or field of practice. Meetings often feature online networking and guest speaker presentations.
To find your nearest state or national network, follow the link below and use the search filter to check 'Include Online Networks in search' and filter for your preferred topic.
Balint networks
A Balint network is a small, local group of clinicians who, led by a trained facilitator, meet to discuss challenging cases (de-identified) from their practices. The focus is on the emotional aspects of their work and particularly the clinician-patient relationship. These groups require applications to join (via your MHPN account) and are capped in member capacity. In some cases, membership of these networks require a small fee.
To find your nearest Balint network, follow the link below and use the search filter to check 'Balint group' under special interest and check 'Include Online Networks in search'.
Can't find a network that fits your needs? Apply to start your own!
Meeting highlight: Kew Perinatal MHPN
Small Moments, Big Impact
In May 2024, the Kew Perinatal MHPN Network Coordinators: Robyn Ball, Dr Matthew Roberts and Lucy Bire, organised for Boston-based Paediatrician, Dr Cyndie Hatcher, to present on her newly developed app: Small Moments, Big Impact. The app promotes the mother-infant relationship and emotional well-being for low-income mothers from birth through the first six months of their baby's life, and helps clinicians stimulate important conversations to deliver the best outcomes for new parents.
Hosted by the Kew Perinatal MHPN, the meeting welcomed members from the Gold Coast, Launceston, WA South-West, Adelaide, St Kilda and Western Victorian Perinatal & Infant Mental Health MHPNs. Meeting attendees included: midwives, maternal child health nurses, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, counsellors, psychiatrists and more! Attendees reported feeling 'privileged and inspired' to have been able to attend the free network meeting and learn about this valuable new resource.
Congratulations to the Kew Perinatal MHPN Coordinators for hosting such a valuable and successful meeting!
Join any of the above perinatal MHPNs by logging in to or creating your MHPN account, follow the above link to the network and request to join.
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.
TASMANIA
Tasmanian Eating Disorders MHPN - TikTok, Social Media Algorithms, and Eating Disorders | Wednesday, 7 August
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Online WA South-West Perinatal & Infant - Opportunities to support, validate and empower parents through and beyond unexpected news about the health, development or genetics of their unborn baby | Monday, 26 August
NEW SOUTH WALES
Randwick - Gottman Couples Therapy | Wednesday, 31 July
Central Coast Child and Adolescent Mental Health - What do you really know about grief and loss? Reconceptualising the experiences of children and young people | Wednesday, 7 August
VICTORIA
Mitcham - Art Therapy and Trauma Informed Practice | Tuesday, 30 July
Lived and Living Experience practitioners’ network - The importance of Lived and Living Experience. What is it and why share? | Thursday, 5 September
Caulfield - Has anyone seen my hormones? | Wednesday, 11 September
QUEENSLAND
Brisbane Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) - Alt2Su: a peer-led
response to suicidal distress | Wednesday, 31 July
Caloundra - Mental Health and the NDIS | Monday, 5 August
Brisbane Professional Supervision - Introduction to polyvagal theory and application in therapeutic relationships | Thursday, 8 August
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
PIGLET (Perinatal Infant Group Liaison Education & Training) - Dual diagnosis - Drugs , Alcohol, Mental Health and Infants | Wednesday, 21 August
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: Hills District MHPN; Launceston MHPN; Townsville Children & Families MHPN.
Does your practitioner group qualify for MHPN support and funding?
Take advantage of our funding opportunities to make an impact in your local community by leading an interdisciplinary network. Join over 300 groups of practitioners all over Australia working to improve collaborative mental health care.
If you have an existing group meeting, you might already qualify! Find out more below or talk to our team to start your MHPN journey.
Webinars
💻 BPD: How to apply the principles of mentalization-based therapy in your practice
Monday 9 September | 7.15 - 8.30 PM (AEST)
💻 Supporting the mental health of a neurodivergent person with co-occurring Autism and ADHD
Podcasts
MHPN account update
📢 Introducing Social Login for your MHPN account
MHPN are excited to announce the launch of the social login feature for MHPN accounts, available from Thursday 25th July!
This new feature will allow you to log in quickly and conveniently using your Google, Microsoft, or LinkedIn accounts, simplifying access to your MHPN account and reducing the need to remember another set of credentials. Learn more about linking your social accounts below.
Please note: Your MHPN account will be unavailable from 8:30pm (AEST) Wednesday 24th July to 9am (AEST) Thursday 25 July while we implement this update.
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.
