I don't know about you, but this year is certainly flying by. How is it that we're now in July? It feels like we just finished eating hot cross buns!

The team and I are busy with our Carer Hub planning and the time for us to move into the new premises is quickly drawing closer.

After some time waiting to hear the announcement of the new Mental Health Commissioner, we were excited to hear that a decision has been made, and Ivan Frkovic has extended his tenure as Commissioner for another three years.

We recently sent out an email listing all the upcoming July events. If you did not receive it, please check your junk inbox as sometimes our emails end up in there.

I'll leave you here to read the newsletter and as ever, if you have anything you'd like us to share in our future newsletters, please contact our marketing team at marketing@arafmi.com.au

Frie Robinson, Carer Support Manager

Earlier in the year, Arafmi’s Carer Support Team were invited to Charleville to explore the possibility of developing another support group for mental health carers in the region.

Our visit was jam packed with activities, so we were grateful for the support of a great guide and friend of Arafmi who works with vulnerable communities in Charleville, Irene F. Irene helped us to connect with a number of services and enabled us attend other events, connect with the community, and learn a lot more about the mental health supports on offer in the area.

This month the Caloundra support group is going to be a little bit different. We will be offering yoga at 10am and coffee at 11am. You're welcome to join us for both or just one of these activities!

Date: Tuesday, 18 July
Location: 51 Palm Creek Road, Tanawha
Time: 10am Yoga, 11am Coffee.

10am – 11am
Yoga Nidra (in the garden) facilitated by Sarah from Golden Lighthouse 

What is Yoga Nidra? 

Yoga Nidra is a form of guided meditation also known as “yogic sleep” or “effortless relaxation”. It’s usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. The practice draws our attention inwards, and we learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep, where our body finds its natural state of equilibrium (homeostasis) – the breath balances and becomes quiet, unconscious and conscious aspects of the mind reveal themselves, and we fall into an innate state of deep, blissful awareness.

Please bring a yoga mat or chair (yoga mats available from Kmart $5), water bottle, light blanket (for warmth) and two small pillows for under your knees and head. 

11am – 12.00pm
The Garden Café has been booked with a lovely spot on the veranda overlooking the pond. Coffee is on Arafmi 😊

Located at the front of the Arts & Ecology Centre, the cafe is operated by the Compass Institute and offers hot and cold drinks, sweet and savoury eats. 

This month we will be reading The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman

Give grief a chance ...

Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years - ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she's just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she's becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed.

At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks - like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there's that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can't be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity.

After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles Botanical Garden feeling out of her element. But what she'll soon discover - with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners - is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not…

With the membership renewal drive well underway, it has been brought to our attention that some of the memberships have been set to automatically re-bill via our new membership program, Joinit.

If you paid your membership renewal last month, please could you check your bank accounts to see that you have not automatically been billed. If you have, please contact us via the button below.

Our Marketing team are currently working on rectifying the problem now and we apologise for any inconvenience.

On Socials? Connect with us!