The latest news from Arafmi
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Irene Clelland
CEO Arafmi
Hello everyone,
This month is about recognising and celebrating you – mental health carers.
In reality this should happen every day of the year, because those of you caring for someone experiencing mental ill-health often simply don’t have the energy, time and resources to pay any attention to your own needs and your own wellbeing.
Hopefully this Carers Week, October 13 – 19, you get the chance to do just that. There are many events planned around Queensland for mental health carers; you can see some of the details below.
Arafmi’s annual Mental Health Carer Forum is on 16 October. The Forum will be an invaluable opportunity to not only share and learn information about caring, but also a chance to relax among others who best understand your experiences. You will hear from a legal expert in planning for the future, a mental health carer Lived Experience advocate who works in the health system, and the Mental Health Commissioner among others.
I’ll be there, with more of a chance to mingle as I’ve handed over the MC duties to our new Senior Advisor – Policy and Advocacy Emma Griffiths. I’m told Emma is still expecting a couple of jokes from me, so you won’t be disappointed.
Have a great Carers Week and a great month,
Irene
What's in the News
Each month explore a selection of articles we've curated especially for you.
Advocacy Team Update
National Carer Strategy
The consultation period for the new National Carer Strategy ended last week. The Advocacy Team made a written submission that highlighted the many different experiences and needs of mental health carers compared to other types of carers. We emphasised the importance of the new strategy recognising these differences and finding ways to address issues such as the need for respite and other accessible support services and a review of the financial impacts of caring and the adequacy of current carer payments.
Lend your support to a call for recognition of mental health carers’ rights
The Carer Forum that preceded the recent The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) in Canberra saw the launch of A joint statement of rights for Australian families, carers and supporters in mental health. The statement outlines eight essential human rights identified by mental health carers and families at last year’s conference. You can access a copy of the statement here.
Pledge your support for the recognition of these rights in legislation and policy by signing the petition.
Arafmi will be hosting and participating in various events during QLD Mental Health Week and Carers Week including a our annual Mental Health Carer Forum and a Carer Gala Dinner in partnership with Carers Qld and Wellways Carer Gateway.
Queensland Mental Health Week, from 5-13 October aims to promote mental health and wellbeing, reduce stigma and discrimination and celebrate the mental health and community sectors. This year’s theme, Connect for Mental Health encourages us all to take steps to support our mental health and that of our communities.
Funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Mental Health Commission, Queensland Mental Health Week is coordinated by CheckUP and delivered through strong cross-sector collaboration.
Queensland Mental Health Week encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not, and encourages help seeking behaviours, when needed.
The week also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in our everyday lives. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Each year, people across Queensland come together during QMHW through local events, conversations and activities to raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing.
National Carers Week, from 13-19 October is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate our wonderful carers. The theme Millions of Reasons to Care, highlights the need to increase awareness of the many people who care for family, friends or kin.
Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Anyone can become a carer, at any time.
National Carers Week is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.
National Carers Week is an initiative of Carers Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and coordinated with the assistance and participation of the National Carer Network.
QLD Mental Health Week Event - Multicultural Community Leaders Connection Morning
Culture Care, a service delivered by Arafmi and World Wellness Group, is hosting a morning tea in Logan for multicultural community leaders during Qld Mental Health Week. Culture Care is pleased to invite multicultural community leaders to:
- Join together to share experiences
- Learn about places people can get help for themselves and people they care for
- Learn about Culture Care and how we can assist people caring in your communities.
New Coffee Connect Support Groups -
Murrumba Downs, Atherton and Toowoomba
Arafmi has three new Coffee Connect groups, designed for unpaid carers.
- join us monthly for a friendly chat over coffee
- open to all unpaid carers offering emotional or practical support to family, kin or friends experiencing mental ill-health
- connect with others providing support.
Murrumba Downs
When: Wednesday 9 October, 10:30am-12:30pm,
then every second Wednesday of each month.
Atherton
When: Tuesday 29 October, 10:00am-12:00pm,
then every fourth Tuesday of each month.
Toowoomba
When: Thursday 31 October, 10:00am-12:00pm,
then every last Thursday of each month.
The calendar for our workshops and info sessions was changed in October to accommodate Mental Health Week and Carers Week. We will still be running workshops in the first week of October and after Carers Week. We are looking forward to seeing you all there.
Arafmi Carer Event Calendar
Explore Arafmi's free support programs. Our calendar includes tailored
support groups, workshops and events for mental health carers.
Arafmi’s 2024 Mental Health Carer Forum
With just two weeks remaining until our Arafmi Carer Forum, we’d like to share some additional information with you.
Below, you’ll find the finalised agenda, as well as introductions to our guest speakers Ivan Frkovic, Shanon Cooper, Katrina Armstrong, and Brian Herd. All this with morning and afternoon tea, lunch and a bit of fun, too including massages, laughter therapy and a dance performance. This is a free event for mental health carers.
If you would like to attend please submit an Expression of interest. Tickets are available to attend in person or to join a livestream of the event. If the allocation for in-person tickets is exhausted, please join our waiting list to be notified if a spot becomes available.
Meet the Speakers
Ivan Frkovic
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner
Ivan Frkovic is Commissioner of the Queensland Mental Health Commission and brings substantial policy, academic and patient-centred experience to the role, having worked in the Queensland mental health system for over 30 years. With a focus on strengthening partnerships and collaboration, he oversees delivery and implementation of the State's strategic plan for mental health, alcohol and drugs and suicide prevention - Shifting minds. Ivan’s experience across government and non-government organisations provides valuable insight to help bring all sectors together to focus on delivering better mental health outcomes for Queenslanders. He has made a significant contribution to community mental health through published papers and articles.
Shanon Cooper
Advanced Carer Peer Worker and the Service Integration Coordinator, Metro South Addictions and Mental Health
Shanon is the mother of 8 and grandmother of 16 with a lived experience of caring for multiple family members with mental health concerns. Shanon brings extensive Lived Experience and skills to the role of Advanced Carer Peer Worker and the Service Integration Coordinator for Metro South Addictions and Mental Health (MSAMH). Shanon is able to seamlessly blend her two roles utilising her lived experience as a carer and her extensive knowledge of support services within the Human Services sector to assist carers, clinicians and organisations to navigate the complex web of services that are available. Shanon holds a Bachelor of Human Services degree, along with qualifications in Community Services, Disabilities and HR Management. Shanon has a strong aspiration to make a positive difference in the community and promotes, facilitates, and advocates to develop meaningful, sustainable partnerships with local support networks and communities that engage with mental health carers.
Katrina Armstrong
Executive Officer, Mental Health Carers Australia
Katrina has been employed as the Executive Officer, Mental Health Carers Australia (MHCA) since 2019 following a 30-year career in the disability sector. MHCA has been recently awarded grant funding to establish a new national mental health peak body representing families, carers and kin and Katrina is committed to ensuring that their voices are heard and represented in policy and funding decisions that affect their lives. Katrina looks forward to collaborating extensively to ensure structurally the new peak is inclusive, reflects the diversity of Australia’s population and geography, and is there to stay as the national voice for families, carers and kin in mental health.
Brian Herd
Partner at Hopgood Ganim Lawyers in Brisbane
Brian has practiced law for 30 years in many areas related to caring for a family member, including enduring powers of attorney, advance health directives, incapacity and decision-making. In this address, titled 'Caring for the Future (and the Law)' he will address many of the legal issues, duties and responsibilities that may arise for mental health carers.
Forum Agenda
Meet the Stallholders
The following organisations will be at the forum with information about their services to support carers, more to be announced.
Opportunities for Carers
Apply for a 2025 Young Carer Bursary through the Young Carers Network
What's the Young Carer Bursary?
The Young Care Bursary is a helping hand. It’s money for young carers to make life a bit easier while they’re studying and caring for someone.
If you're aged between 12 - 25 years old and provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend, you might be eligible to apply.
Kookaburra Kids free activity day at Australia Zoo
Kookaburra Kids have an exciting opportunity for their CORE young people to get involved and up close with a great array of animals at our upcoming activity days at Australia Zoo!
If you have any further questions or are unsure if a young person would eligible, please don’t hesitate to reach out or email info@kookaburrakids.org.au
New NDIS Law
The new NDIS legislation has just passed parliament. Some of these changes will come into effect from October 3rd 2024, whereas others will be phased in over a longer timeframe.
Always here for you
You 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.
