Hello everyone,

In the middle of May every year, we find out how the federal government is spending all our money, and for mental health carers and the people we care for, this year delivered some positive change, but on a smaller scale than we’d like.

There is money to continue existing services that would otherwise have been shut down in July. And there is about $164 million over the next four years to establish and run a free nation-wide digital mental health service, providing early intervention in ill-health support, which it’s hoped will provide something for people who have been missing out entirely.

I made the quick trip to Canberra in mid-May for the annual post-budget Mental Health Australia Policy Forum, where we heard from the Ministers and the bureaucrats in charge.

As the Mental Health Australia CEO, Carolyn Nikoloski summed it up: “The investments are sound and broad, but not deep”.

Perhaps it’s not surprising, given the number of significant negotiations underway between federal and state governments, including reshaping the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

For carers, there are two bright spots:

• the increased flexibility in accessing the Carers Payment
• and the establishment of a national professional organisation for Mental Health Peer Workers.

Next up, we’ll find out how the state government is spending Queenslanders’ money, when the State Budget is handed down on June 11. We’ll keep a close eye on that one and let you know what it means for mental health carers.

Finally, I’d like to sign off a bit differently this month, by saying Gurumba bigi, hello [good day], in Yuggera, I live and work on Yuggera lands in West End, Brisbane and I usually sign off my emails with this phrase, to try to raise awareness of our First Nations peoples. As the theme for Reconciliation Week says, Now More Than Ever, we can all play a role in healing the wrongs of the past.

Have a great month,
Irene

Welcome Jennifer

Attend our new self-care workshop

Arafmi has introduced a workshop focusing on self-care for carers. This workshop shares strategies to help carers implement self-care, which is crucial for their wellbeing throughout their caregiving journey.

The workshop is held monthly, with an option for carers to attend as part of a day retreat at the Carer Hub in Teneriffe.

For more information or to express interest in attending, please contact the Carer Support Team to be added to the waiting list.

Each month explore a selection of articles we've curated especially for you.

Arafmi’s inaugural mental health carers report

This has been a major part of our work as the peak body for mental health carers in Queensland over the past nine months. So yes, it’s been rather like a birth!

“At What Cost?” collates and analyses the feedback from carers in consultations held by our Advocacy Team held late last year. Thank you to those of you who participated in this process.

The report is being mailed out to all State MPs, Queensland-based Federal MPs, senior public servants and other stakeholders, as part of our bid to raise awareness of mental health carers and the systemic reforms carers need.

First Nations mental health carers

Chantelle Bongers, First Nations Lived Experience Lead,  travelled to Townsville to discuss with local organisations whether First Nations communities identify with the term ‘carer’, what is unique about caring roles within culture and what supports exist to support First Nations mental health carers. The conversations offered some insight into the importance of caring for someone with mental-ill health and how this continues to be a cultural practice within First Nations communities.

Ipswich Medicare Mental Health Centre
Gillian, attended the opening of the new Ipswich Medicare Mental Health Centre. Gillian was part of the reference group to help co-design the space. With the opening of the clinic, free mental health care and support will be available to residents across Greater Ipswich.

The federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride was also there. Read her media release below.

Second Inner-City Mini Retreat

Our second successful Inner-City Mini Retreat was held this month. Carers had the opportunity to stay for 2 nights at the overnight respite accommodation in Teneriffe, participate in wellbeing activities, a self-care workshop and creative workshop. We thank Adele for being the in-house beautician and providing a makeover for the carers before going out to dinner.

Some kind words from our guests:

“Words just don’t seem enough to say how grateful I am to have had this experience... it was the ultimate CARE experience. I will definitely take some very valuable lessons home with me after this joyful time – No. 1 being put aside time for the care I need to keep going!”

“All of you have been sent from heaven, cause that’s where I felt like I was for the past few days...I still can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to have had this much pampering.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the mini retreat or would like to attend for a day retreat for the workshops please contact the Carer Support Team or call 1300 554 660.

National Volunteer Week

In May Arafmi celebrated National Volunteer Week with some of the phone volunteers at Merthyr Bowls Club on the river. It was a wonderful way to connect and thank volunteers for their incredible ongoing support. The volunteers make the 24 hour phone line possible by being available in the evenings and on weekends.

Most volunteers at the dinner had not met each other in person before so it was a great opportunity to meet the person they handover to on the phone line. We were also privileged to join Louise Dutton to celebrate her 27 years as a phone volunteer.

If you are interested in volunteering opportunities with Arafmi please get in touch for more information.

New Carer Gateway Project

Mental Health First Aid Workshop

Ben facilitated a Mental Health First Aid Workshop  which provided carers with information and techniques to assist them. These workshops are run over two days and open to carers. If you are interested in finding out more or registering your interest for a future workshop please contact Ben.

Good grief, this hurts!

The theme for this year's Good grief, this hurts! webinar is:  Kinship loss - Supporting young people who have experienced the death of a special adult. 

Good grief, this hurts! is a free, annual educational event aimed at building community capacity and practical awareness about grief, loss, death and bereavement as experienced by children and young people. The event is an opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in supporting a child or young person who is grieving. 

The webinar is open to anyone in the community who is caring for a child or young person who has been impacted by the death of a special adult. We warmly welcome family members and friends, teachers, guidance counsellors, healthcare providers, private counsellors/psychologists and community-based youth focused organisations.

Kookaburra Kids

Kookaburra Kids run amazing programs for young people who have a family member with mental health concerns. Designed by mental health professionals, their Camps, Activity Days and online Connect Sessions are proven to empower young people to thrive beyond the impacts of family mental ill-health.

Envisage First Peoples Program

Envisage First Peoples Program is for parents and carers raising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with developmental difficulties or disabilities. Developed by mob, for mob, the program is free, led by carers with lived experience and is a safe space to yarn with respect for culture and community. No diagnosis or NDIS plan needed.

A workshop to help you de-clutter your life

Carers QLD and Carer Gateway are running a workshop all about de-cluttering your life and how you can get back on track with knowing where to start.

For more information, click the links below.

Know someone who has been anxious or worried lately?

University of Queensland’s Centre for Clinical Research  are conducting an Australia-wide online research study tailored specifically to help those living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment who experience anxious or worrisome thoughts. They are seeking volunteers to participate in their research from the comfort of their own homes.

Seeking family/carer Lived Experience workers in the Queensland mental health system

Griffith University is inviting Family/Carer Lived Experience workers in paid or voluntary roles who have worked in QLD mental health services in the last five years to participate in a study.

This study aims to identify Family/Carer workforce issues, challenges, and supports. We hope to map the scope and roles of the QLD Family/Carer Lived Experience workforce as well as investigate your experiences of participating in this workforce.

The aim of the study is to represent the many voices of the Family/Carer Lived Experience workforce to make recommendations to further support this important workforce.

Carer Connect Support Group - Fostering Recovery

Hear from two EDQ lived experience speakers (Michelle & Chloe) about their eating disorder recovery journey.

Date: Wednesday 19 June
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Peer Work Scholarships

The Peer Work Scholarships Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health.

The Program aims to strengthen and grow the mental health and suicide prevention Lived Experience workforce by funding scholarships to support people to undertake the Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work.

The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) has been contracted by the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) to lead the project to deliver the scholarships in Queensland.

There are 178 scholarship packages available in total throughout 2023-2024.

Join QLD Public Trustee for Matters of Trust

Carers Queensland supports and services

Carers Queensland’s Carer Program provides free services and supports to assist you in your caring role. Their work focuses on carer consultation, improving your health and wellbeing, and helping you connect with your local communities and other carers.

Click here to see current events or visit their website via the link below to find out more.

Eating Disorders QLD have two very exciting roles in their Carer/Key Supports Team:

• Carer Coach
• Lived Experience Peer Worker

Find out more below