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 3 May. Let us know if you have anything you'd like us to include by replying to this email.

Dear friends,  

During the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting more members. I am in awe of their dedication, commitment, and efforts in what can only be described as challenging times.  

The breadth and complexity of services offered to the Canberra community are nothing short of amazing, and all add to creating a more mentally healthy Canberra. I’d like to personally thank you for the tremendous work you’re doing. It doesn’t go unnoticed. 

In April, the team and I developed our 2024 Election Platform, under our four advocacy pillars of Loneliness, Perinatal Mental Health, Climate Change, and Justice. We have formulated a draft, which will be circulated to members for comments early in May, then with our advocacy hats on, we’ll get in front of as many of the relevant Ministers, MLAs, and government representatives as possible, to communicate our requests. 

On Wednesday the 1st of May, also World Maternal Mental Health Day, we held an online meeting for members and introduced Dr Sarah Miller, the new Deputy Coordinator General at the Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Working with Dr. Elizabeth Moore, Dr Miller has extensive experience in and a deep passion for mental health, and we are delighted to have someone of her expertise on side.  

In other news, our Policy, Advocacy & Media Manager, Erin recently spoke at the Standing Committee on Environment, Climate Change, and Biodiversity. Erin referred to our January 2024 submission: Inquiry into Climate Change and a Just Transition. You can find a recording of the hearing on the Legislative Assembly’s page. (you can hear what Erin had to say at the 3:27 mark). 

Lastly, we are holding our final two sessions of Politics Training with Louise Crossman from Counsel House. Louise has been consulting to MHCC ACT this year and her wealth of knowledge of the political landscape has been both fascinating and enlightening! Open to our members, Louise provides excellent insight into the workings of the ACT Legislative Assembly in preparation for the election this October. For more information, please email admin@mhccact.org.au. 

Have a good few weeks, till next time... 

- Vicky Choice, Director of Engagement and Partnerships MHCC ACT

In the news

Brontë Haskins' mother calls for more mental health resources after tragic death of daughter | Riotact
Charles Sturt University now included in program employing education students in Canberra | Riotact 
'Gendered lens': Why housing is key to keeping women safe | The Canberra Times 
How to prevent family violence in migrant communities in Australia | SBS
Marija wants to end youth homelessness in Canberra for good | Riotact
Michaela lives eight hours from her young daughter — the rental crisis is now separating families | SBS News 
Police ministers meet on gendered violence prevention | The Canberra Times
Rich get richer than rest: Australia's wealth gap grows | The Canberra Times
The cost of living side effects impacting over 10 million Australians | SBS News 
Violence against women was rising before recent surge, new report reveals | SBS News 

Seeking participants

Molonglo Valley Library Codesign

The ACT Government is seeking ideas and feedback from the Canberra community to support the vision of the future library and community hub for the Molonglo Valley.

You can have your say by:

• completing the short survey
• posting your ideas, photos and videos on our vision board
• attending one of the ‘pop-ups’ at local shops or libraries
• checking out the display at your local library branch and sharing your ideas on the interactive board
• emailing communityengagement@act.gov.au.

Consultation closes 6 May.

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

Training and workshops 

• Adult Mental Health First Aid - 2 Day Course 7 and 8 May, ACTCOSS 

• Understanding refugee experience 16 May, Companion House, email glenn.flanagan@companionhouse.org.au 

• Multicultural Training 30 May, ACTCOSS 

• MIEACT's Community Sector DoNOHarm Training 31 May, Online 

• MIEACT's Community Sector DoNOHarm Training 4 June, Online 

• 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  

• National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024 30 April - 2 May

• Volunteering Conference 2024 21 May, Canberra

• MHomentum 2024 22-24 May, Gold Coast

• Safeguarding the Future conference 23 - 24 May, Canberra

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

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

• Free and Equal Human Rights Conference 6 - 7 June, Sydney 

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

• 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 

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

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.