ACT Mental Health Sector Update: 14 June 2024

In this Sector Update, find:

Director of Engagement and Partnerships blog, from Vicky Choice
Sector News
Upcoming events
Grants, community resources, and other opportunities

Our next Sector Update will be in 5 July. Let us know if you have anything you'd like us to include by replying to this email.

Dear friends,

It’s hard to believe that six months have passed since I joined MHCC ACT. This is my last sector update, as my contract concludes at the end of June 2024.

It’s been a big year for us so far, and I am immensely proud of the outcomes the team and I have delivered. I extend my thanks to Rahni Orr Deas, Erin Stewart, Sebastian Rosenberg, Louise Crossman, Yvonne Luxford and the MHCC ACT Board.

We all know that the ACT Government needs to invest much more in community managed mental health. Of course, we want to see investment in the form of funding, but I’d also like to see it in the form of acknowledgement.

Acknowledgement of that value we bring to the community. Acknowledgement of the challenges we face. Acknowledgement that at some stage, every person will be directly or indirectly affected by mental health challenges. Acknowledgement of the importance of peer support and lived experience. Acknowledgement that the ACT needs a truly joined-up mental health system, that connects people to the right services when they need it.

I hope the impact of our communications to local Ministers and politicians results in positive change.

To catch you up, this week we finalised MHCC ACT’s Election Platform and we will be circulating this with the political parties, media, and broader Canberra community leading up to the ACT election. Keep an eye on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X) and your inboxes for the Election Platform launch.

Last week I attended a screening of the UnCharitable Movie organised by Fundraising Institute Australia ACT. The film was painfully on point regarding the intense scrutiny that NFP organisations face, and what we could accomplish if we looked at things a little differently. I implore you and your friends to watch it, to spread the message about what and how things can change.

We have also been out and about engaging with members. While I’ve not had the opportunity of meeting every one of you in person, I thank you for your continued efforts, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to serving our community.

I also met with Dr Sarah Miller, Deputy Coordinator General at the Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing, who works alongside Dr Elizabeth Moore. Sarah has deep expertise of and knowledge in the mental health and wellbeing space. We had a fantastic conversation, and it became clear that we share many values and viewpoints.

I would like to acknowledge Elizabeth Moore and thank her for her leadership and support and wish her well for the future at the conclusion of her position at the end of June.

Coming up, we will be attending the 2024 SiTara’s Story Gala on the 22nd of June. This highly anticipated event will be an evening dedicated to women empowerment, gender equality and mental health awareness. Proceeds will benefit the culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) communities in Canberra as well as the mental health awareness programs within marginalised groups in Bangladesh. Get your tickets today!

Lastly, thank you for welcoming and supporting me. It has been truly energising and inspiring to be a part of MHCC ACT and the broader sector, and I look forward to staying connected.

- Vicky Choice, Director of Engagement and Partnerships MHCC ACT

Hi Folks,

As you are all aware, MHCC ACT’s CEO Melanie Poole is currently on parental leave. Melanie has made a request to extend her leave through until August and the Board has approved her request. As such the Board wanted to advise you, our members, and key stakeholders, of the arrangements we have in place to ensure the continued successful operations of MHCC ACT until Melanie’s return.

To provide leadership and operational support until Melanie returns, the Board have engaged Kylie Burnett, supported by Brendan Egan to cover the duties of a Chief Operations Officer, reporting through to the Board. They will provide an extensive handover to Melanie upon her return. Kylie and Brendan will start to accompany Vicky and Sebastian on some of their engagements so that they can formally meet our members and key stakeholders to ensure they are across the organisation’s priorities and operations.

Vicky Choice will continue as our Director of Engagement and Partnerships, in line with her contract through until the end of June 2024, supported by Sebastian Rosenberg. Sebastian will continue through until Melanie’s return to ensure a smooth transition.

Rahni Orr Deas will continue in her role as Events and Engagement Manager.

Emma Davis also commenced with MHCC ACT until such time as the Office Manager and the Policy and Advocacy Manager roles are filled.

Please reach out to Kylie at kylie.burnett@mhccact.org.au or the Board if you would like to discuss.

- Yvonne Luxford, Chair, MHCC ACT

In the news

ACT Greens to establish four fully bulk-billing GP clinics to deliver 160,000 free doctor's visits (if they win) | Riotact
Cheyne rejects idea tip shop contract incentivises higher prices | Canberra Times
Coming up $135 short a week — the Australians struggling to survive | SBS News
Electric bikes hold the potential for a transport revolution | Canberra Times
Government's one-off funding to community health groups welcomed but 'not enough' | Canberra Times
How Canberra child care centres are quelling COVID | Canberra Times
Labor vows to slash ACT poker machines, fast track cash-free gaming | Canberra Times
'Please come out and see us!' Vinnies open for donations, preparations underway for 'Goodies Junction' | Riotact
Pressure on community groups means Canberrans are at risk of losing vital support | Riotact
Volunteers in Canberra say it's a rewarding experience but their numbers are gradually declining as the cost of living rises | ABC News
‘We can’t keep going around this cycle’: Community NGOs welcome cash injection but more surety needed | Riotact
Youth mental health services rate poorly in ACT Auditor-General's report | Riotact

Seeking participants

Entrees in ACT

Entrees are an introduction to The Men’s Table through stories and dialogue over dinner for men interested in being part of The Men’s Table.

They are an opportunity to experience how a Table works through open sharing over a relaxed and conversational meal, and to decide if joining a Table is for you. The ticket cost includes a meal and registrations are limited to 16 men.

Register now

2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study

A focus on 16-25 years

The 2024 ALIVE Lived Experience research priority-setting study is focused on the views of young people who have lived experience of mental ill-health, and/or as a carer, family or kinship group member supporting someone with mental ill-health. This year, they have decided to offer more than their usual survey and co-design, and you get to choose how you would like to take part. There are four different participation methods to help generate and prioritise mental health research topics. Read about each briefly below and click the links to read the information sheet and consent to participate.

Online survey

Alive's brief online survey asks you some questions about your age, gender, location and type of lived experience. If you have carer, family or kinship group experience, they also ask you some questions about how you see your role. Alive then ask you to list three priorities for mental health research from your own perspective. And that’s it. Click here to read the full information sheet and complete the survey.

Photo interview

If you would prefer to have a chat with someone about your ideas, Alive are doing online interviews. You can bring along some photos to help frame the discussion. Like the survey, you will be asked to list three priorities for mental health research from your own perspective, but you can talk about them a bit more. Click here to read the information sheet and sign up for an interview, and Alive will be touch.

Crowdsourcing

Feeling creative? Alive's community crowdsourcing platform lets you upload images and videos to go along with your text descriptions of your research priorities. This might be photos, artwork or brief videos that describe your priorities. As part of Alive's prioritisation process, the crowdsourcing platform also lets people vote on your ideas, and you can vote on theirs. Click here to read the information sheet and sign up to the platform.

Emotion mapping

Want to work with ideas put forward by other young people? This is your space! In emotion mapping you will have a private online Mural board workspace where you can use virtual post-it notes to reflect on the importance of topics and think about how they should be organised. Click here to read the information sheet and sign up for the emotion mapping, and Alive will be in touch.

The ethical aspects of this project have been approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee (protocol H/2024/0495)

Find out more

Help make Canberra the world’s age-friendliest city

Community consultation has begun on a 10-year plan to make Canberra a great place to grow older.

The ACT Government will develop the next Age-Friendly City Plan 2025–2035 to set the direction and priorities to make Canberra a place where everyone can age well.

Canberrans are being asked to share their thoughts and vision for an inclusive, accessible and welcoming city where people are celebrated as they grow older.

The consultation will cover five focus areas, including:

health
employment and financial security
housing
access and connection
respect, inclusion and belonging.

There are a number of ways Canberrans can share their views:

complete the YourSay survey
upload a submission on the YourSay website
attend an in-person facilitated discussion at a library – there are discussions scheduled at Belconnen, Dickson, Tuggeranong and Kippax libraries
host a discussion with friends or community groups using a discussion guide designed to draw out feedback that can be shared with the government.

Consultation closes Friday 28 June 2024.

Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit - Community Service Organisation Survey

Many CSOs play an important role in assisting the community to cope with disasters, including those that are climate related. Many also provide critical services that cannot afford to be disrupted by such disasters or by other impacts caused by a changing climate.

Climate change risks include extreme weather events, such as floods or fires. They may be sudden and quick or slower and over a longer duration. The risks associated with how we change society to adapt to climate change are also considered climate change risks. These include higher taxes on fossil fuels, changes in technology like shifting to electric vehicles and shifts in the market when some industries become less viable.

It is critical that community service organisations continue to operate in a future with more frequent and severe climate hazards and so are prepared for these risks

The ACT Government has engaged a team of specialists in climate change resilience to develop a toolkit that will help Community Service Organisations prepare for a future that includes severe climate risks.

This survey will give the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) a better understanding of your service and how it operates.
This information will help plan a series of interactive workshops where EPSDD will collaborate with participants to co-design a Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit.

Survey.

Upcoming events

Expressive Pathways Expression of Interest

Expressive Pathways is Rebus' non-accredited work ready program, for people aged between 17 and 24, living with intellectual disabilities and/or neurodivergence. Expressive Pathways uses the power of theatre to equip young adults living with disability with the skills to help them thrive in the workplace. Over one year a Rebus Theatre Director and a registered Trainer and Assessor, will guide participants through Foundational Workplace Skills. This program is only open to people who have left school already.

Register your interest.

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.

My Rights My Decisions Workshops

Delivered by the Mental Health Consumer Network, My Rights, My Decisions (MRMD) workshops help you to think about the things that are important to you if you become unwell in the future. You will learn how to complete your Form Kit, including when you can complete it, what you can write in it, how to lodge it for future use and more.

By the end of the workshop, you will:

Have a basic understanding of your rights, decision-making capacity and supported decision making under the Mental Health Act 2015 (ACT);
Know the difference between a carer, a Nominated Person and other types of support people and know how to appoint a Nominated Person;
Understand what an Advance Consent Direction and Advance Agreement can be used for and how to complete them; and
Know how to finish and lodge your Form Kit.

More information.

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.

Our mailing address
Lvl 1, 20 Genge St, Canberra City, ACT 2601

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.

ACT Mental Health Sector Update

From Vicky

From Yvonne

In our sector

In the news

Seeking participants

Entrees in ACT

2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study

A focus on 16-25 years

Help make Canberra the world’s age-friendliest city

Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit - Community Service Organisation Survey

What's on

Upcoming events

Training and workshops

Conferences and forums

Other

Opportunities and resources

Expressive Pathways Expression of Interest

Healthcare Sector women’s leadership scholarship

My Rights My Decisions Workshops