In this Sector Update, find:

• Sector News
• Upcoming events
• Grants, community resources, and other opportunities
• MHCC ACT blog, from Kylie Burnett

Our next Sector Update will be on 16 August. Let us know if you have anything you'd like us to include by replying to this email.

ACTforCommunity Launch Event

The ACT Community Sector Peaks are launching a campaign – ACTforCommunity – to advocate for increased funding for the community sector, and we need your support. 

Our campaign aims to call on all parties and candidates in the lead up to the ACT election, and beyond, to commit to: 

• ensuring the quality of life for all Canberrans by sustainably funding the community sector that supports them; 

• ensuring recent and long-term Canberrans have access to support; 

• providing the right spaces for Canberrans to receive the help they need; and 

• protecting the community from climate change. 

Your involvement is crucial to the success of this campaign. 

Participate in the Campaign Launch

We’d love you to support by attending the Campaign Launch on Tuesday, 30 July from 10am to 12pm at ATODA. Register today to join us in demonstrating our collective commitment. 

ACTCOSS: Cost-of-living crisis worsens | Canberra Daily
Bespoke health navigation tool directing Canberrans to the most appropriate care | RiotACT
Canberra's LGBTQIA+ community says it's 'disgusted' by alleged assaults of men who police say were lured through dating app Grindr | ABC NEWS 
'Feel like you're dead': By 18, Jayden had been in police watch houses about 25 times | SBS The Feed 
New research shows small lifestyle changes are linked to differences in teen mental health over time | The Conversation
Political parties urged to prioritise delivery of a residential mother-baby mental health unit | RiotACT
What is a minimum rental standard? Consultation aims to find out | RiotACT
Yet-to-be-approved four-storey complex flagged as Woden Community Services' new home | RiotACT

Training and workshops 

• ACTCOSS Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Education Workshop 15 August, Weston Community Hub Meeting Room

• Stepping Stone: CALD Adults Learning Elementary Computer and English Skills Multiple dates, Gunghalin Library 

• Lifeline Canberra - Accidental Counsellor Multiple dates, Canberra

• Lifeline Canberra - ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Multiple dates, Canberra

• Take Control – Live Well 3 week group program Multiple dates, multiple locations

Conferences and Forums 

• RISE UP! 2024 She Leads Conference 2 August, Canberra

• 34th Annual Mental Health Services Conference 27 - 30 August, Canberra

• LGBTIQA+ Leadership Summit 2024 17 - 20 September, Sydney

• 17th National Rural Health Conference 16-18 September, Perth

• Women in Leadership Summit 22 - 25 October, Sydney

• 4th Indigenous Wellbeing Conference October, Auckland 

• APSAD Canberra 2024 30 October - 2 November, Canberra

• Rural Mental Health Conference 6 - 8 November, Cairns 

• STOP Domestic Violence Conference 25 - 27 November, Adelaide 

Other 

• Fearless Women Little Lunch: Women In Sport 14 August, Canberra 

• Confidence in Conversations: Training for all Venue & Club Staff Various dates, Canberra

2024 National Carer Survey 

Mental Health Carers Voice are counting on you to share your experiences and represent the voice of ACT carers. Given our smaller jurisdiction, we often have a lower turnout in national surveys, but every response truly counts. The data gathered from this survey will help Mental Health Carers Voice advocate effectively for all ACT carers. This is one of the few ways we can obtain the figures we use when talking to both Government and services about how they can best support you. 

If you would prefer to complete this survey on paper rather than online, please contact research@carersnsw.org.au, and they will send you a printed version, including a reply-paid envelope, at no cost to you. Alternatively you can contact Mental Health Carers Voice, via email mhcarers@carersact.org.au to receive a copy. 

Survey closes 31 July.

JAMMed Study: Seeking Research Participants

Researchers at the ANU are doing a study looking at young people's experiences trying to get help with their mental health in the ACT. This study commenced in 2023, and invited young people aged 16-25 to share their experiences of help-seeking with the researchers.

The research team are seeking new research participants to participate in this project, specifically:

• Young people aged 16-25 who identify as male
• Young people aged 16-25 from a First Nations background 

Research participants will be invited to participate in four interviews over the course of a year, and will be reimbursed $100 for each interview. 

To be eligible, participants must have a regular GP who they see. This is an ethical requirement of the study. 

For more information about the study, view the Information Flyer or contact CHM.jammed.study@anu.edu.au. 

State of the Nation in Suicide Prevention Survey 2024

Suicide Prevention Australia is the national peak body for the suicide prevention sector.

The suicide prevention sector is diverse and the landscape is continually changing. Suicide Prevention Australia have designed this annual survey to gather your insights to develop a clear picture of the state of suicide prevention in Australia at this time.

This annual survey has been running since 2020 to identify trends over time.

This survey will take approximately fifteen (15) minutes to complete.

Your contributions are invaluable to our future work.

Who should take this survey?

Organisations and people in the suicide prevention and mental health sectors.

Where can I go for more information?

If you have any questions please contact us at policy@suicidepreventionaust.org

The survey questions relate to a sensitive topic that may affect you personally.

If you or anyone you know needs help you can call:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line (13YARN) 13 92 76

Survey closes today, 26 July. 

Tenant Talks 2024

Tenant Talks bring together over 100 renters from around Australia to share their experiences, build the collective power of our renter community, and to advocate for improved rental standards together.

Each event will run like a kitchen table conversation, with a host and a small group of renters sharing their experiences. Tenant Talks will be used to publish a report, and to develop renter-led campaigns in the lead up to the 2025 Federal Election. 

How to get involved

Attending a Tenant Talk will give you the space to connect with other renters over shared experiences, participate in conversations around rental issues, and have the opportunity to host your own Tenant Talk down the track (if you're up for it!). Hosts are also more than welcome to be attendees at other Tenant Talk events.  

Hosts will run the events themselves either in their home, or in another local space. They will facilitate group discussions at their Tenant Talk, and get attendees to their event with support from Better Renting staff. Hosts will be in regular contact with staff who will support them in running their event, providing materials, training, and ongoing support. 

More information. 

Sensitive Storytelling Framework

As we know storytelling is a powerful medium that bridges cultures, experiences, and emotions, often creating deep connections between the storyteller and the audience. 

However, the importance of ethics and respect in storytelling cannot be overstated.

That’s why Laundry Lane developed the Sensitive Storytelling Framework. 

Explore the video to learn more about Sensitive Storytelling and how you can champion respectful and ethical storytelling in your organisation.

Advance your career with a Healthcare Sector women’s leadership scholarship

Partial scholarships of $1,000-$5,000 are available to help women in select industries participate in world-class leadership courses.

Find out more.

Dear friends,  
 
This is my second, and final sector update as our CEO Melanie Wilde will be returning from parental leave on Monday, 5 August.  

I know that Melanie is very excited to be back working with you all, to continue the critical work of MHCC ACT in advocating for our members and the broader community-managed mental health sector.  

Brendan and I will be working with Melanie to ensure a comprehensive handover of MHCC ACT’s activities. 

What’s been happening at MHCC 
 
We launched our election platform, developed with extensive input by our members. Our election platform calls on candidates to make mental health a priority this election.  

We have provided concrete asks, across our four policy pillars of Loneliness, Climate Change and Mental Health, Perinatal Mental Health and Justice and Mental Health to ensure that together, we can create a more mentally healthy Canberra.  

We met with the Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, to discuss key elements of our election platform.  

We also referred to our March 2024 Paper, Establishing a Vibrant Community Mental Health System in the ACT.  

We thank the Minister for her time, and we look forward to continuing to meet with Ministers, MLA’s and Candidates leading up to the election.   

This week, we released our response to the ACT Government’s 2024-25 budget.  

Whilst we welcome the continued focus on mental health and wellbeing, we are disappointed that the focus is again on acute, crisis-oriented services, rather than the preventative community-based care that our sector delivers, and that is more efficient, effective and sustainable mental health care for all Canberrans.  

Coming up we are joining our fellow Community Peaks for the launch of our joint campaign, ACTforCommunity.  

The ACTforCommunity campaign aims to call on all parties and candidates in the lead up to the ACT election, and beyond, to commit to:  

• ensuring the quality of life for all Canberrans by sustainably funding the community sector that supports them; 

• ensuring recent and long-term Canberrans have access to support;  

• providing the right spaces for Canberrans to receive the help they need; and  

• protecting the community from climate change.  

How you can help 

Your involvement is crucial to the success of this campaign, and we’d love you to support by attending the Campaign Launch on Tuesday, 30 July from 10am to 12pm at ATODA.  

You can register here. We’ll also be sharing more ways to get involved post launch.  
 
It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all. I look forward to continuing to champion the sector when I return to my role as Lived Experience Director on the MHCC ACT Board.

- Kylie Burnett, MHCC ACT

Editorial policy
Opinions expressed in articles included in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the policy position of MHCC ACT. Information included in this newsletter is for general information purposes only and should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular service.

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Acknowledgement of Country
MHCC ACT acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians and Country and recognises their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.