CEO Update: Celebrating Embrace – and inclusive approaches to mental health
23 October 2024
CEO Message
CEO Update: Celebrating Embrace – and inclusive approaches to mental health
With more than half of Australia’s population having been born overseas or having at least one parent born overseas, an increase in people finding refuge and safety in Australia, the continued impact of racism and discrimination, and current global conflicts, the need for more inclusive approaches to mental health is greater than ever.
Last week’s Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils Australia’s (FECCA) 2024 Conference in Brisbane highlighted the strengths and challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities across Australia.
The Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project team joined others across the multicultural sector talking about programs and community-led approaches to supporting mental health and wellbeing for people from CALD backgrounds. The team’s session shone a light on how a collaborative, long-term focus on funding ongoing mental health initiatives can better support communities and the sector and build an equitable system that reflects and responds to the diverse needs of CALD communities.
The Embrace project, an initiative of Mental Health Australia in partnership with FECCA and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance, and funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, was established to ensure that the needs of mental health consumers and carers from CALD backgrounds are better understood and met.
The cornerstone of the Embrace project is the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia, a free, national online resource for mental health and suicide prevention services and workforce to evaluate and enhance their cultural responsiveness. If your organisation would like to evaluate and enhance cultural responsiveness and improve your understanding of the needs of multicultural communities, I encourage you to visit the Framework to learn more.
The Embrace project also delivers the CALD Community Engagement Project (CCEP), supporting community-led, culturally appropriate approaches to mental health services and supports. It has engaged 11 communities in 12 projects throughout Australia, collaborating with local multicultural organisations in selected CALD communities to identify mental health and suicide prevention needs, and co-design community-led solutions and resources.
In Brisbane, the Pasifika and Māori community has worked with the Brisbane South PHN to create downloadable videos and other resources that highlight the role of Pasifika and Māori values in shaping mental health wellbeing, and available supports. In Sydney, the Cantonese/Mandarin community have worked with the Chinese Australian Services Society to co-design downloadable resources to inform and promote mental wellbeing and destigmatisation, and deepen understanding of mental health and available services across that community.
The Centre for Evidence and Implementation has been deeply involved in the CCEP from the start, meeting with communities regularly and helping them to embed monitoring and evaluation tools into individual projects, and has commenced a comprehensive evaluation of the CCEP, which is in its final year.
The learnings will inform the development of a toolkit to support best practice and elevate community-led approaches to mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention for multicultural communities.
I’ve spoken before about the gap in national mental health data about communities from different backgrounds, and I’m pleased to share that Mental Health Australia, through the Embrace project, has been funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care to deliver a Report on the State of Mental Health in Multicultural Australia in late 2025. The report will offer evidence-based recommendations to enhance the capacity and capability of governments and the sector to adopt best practice approaches to support the mental health of CALD communities. It is also a critical step in informing better policy, research, and service development for CALD communities.
These efforts go a long way to gathering nuanced evidence about the mental health needs of people from CALD backgrounds, but it’s the whole picture that matters.
By delivering this report we will continue to provide guidance to the mental health and suicide prevention sectors as we collectively strive to improve the mental health of all communities across Australia.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
The diary next week
- Today I am meeting with the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Embrace Lived Experience Group and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
- Tomorrow, I will be meeting with State and Territory Mental Health Peaks, and Mental Health Australia's Policy Team will be attending a consultation by the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority on National Disability Insurance Scheme Pricing.
- On Monday I am meeting with Mental Health Australia member, TheMHS.
- On Tuesday I am meeting with the Manna Institute.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Mental Health Australia members are advised that the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the members of Mental Health Australia Ltd will be held on Tuesday 12 November 2024 at 6.00pm (AEDT). This meeting will be held in Seminar Room One (Access via Entrance 3, 179 La Trobe Street) at the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, with the option to join virtually via Zoom if unable to attend in person.
To register your attendance (in-person or online) at the AGM please follow the ‘get tickets’ option at this link:
If you elect online attendance, a Zoom link will be emailed to you before the AGM.
At the meeting, members will have the opportunity to find out about Mental Health Australia’s operations and finances for the 2023/24 financial year and Full member delegates can vote on all resolutions proposed, including the appointment of the 2025 Mental Health Australia Limited Board Directors.
Appoint a proxy
A Full member delegate who is entitled to attend and vote at the AGM has the right to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf. If you would like to appoint a proxy please complete and return the attached proxy form. All proxies must be received by the Returning Officer at governance@mhaustralia.org no later than midday AEDT, Monday 11 November 2024.
Meeting papers
Meeting papers for the Annual General Meeting will be circulated to all members on Tuesday 29 October 2024.
By order of the Board.
Kathryn Sequoia, Company Secretary, 18 October 2024
Mental Health News
Minister Rishworth address at Women’s Agenda and Carers Australia breakfast
The Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services addressed issues affecting carers and Federal Government initiatives including the Carer Inclusive Workplace Initiative and the release of the draft National Carer Strategy for public consultation.
Read the speech at the button below.
Draft National Carer Strategy open for public consultation
During National Carers Week, Federal Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, opened public consultation on the draft National Carer Strategy, which delivers on an election commitment to set the direction and course to drive positive change for carers.
Trial to help school-aged boys develop healthy masculinities
Federal Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP said the Albanese Labor Government is investing $3.5 million under the Healthy MaTE trial to support three projects promoting and encouraging healthy perceptions of masculinity among school-aged boys.
More affordable and accessible healthcare (ACT)
Labor Leader Andrew Barr said a re-elected Labor Government will open four new health centres across the ACT to deliver public health services closer to home. Nurse-led Walk-in Centres will be expanded to provide free mental health support, and specially trained nurses will provide treatment to support people presenting with mental concerns with their physical and mental health needs.
New short stay unit opens at Frankston Hospital (VIC)
The new 13-bed short stay unit at the $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital redevelopment is complete, paving the way for the expansion of the emergency department to progress, which includes a new dedicated paediatric zone and a mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) hub.
New financial scheme to make it easier for victims of crime (VIC)
The Allan Labor Government says it is better supporting victims of crime, making it easier to access financial assistance and have their trauma recognised outside of court through the new online Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS). The Labor Government says it has worked closely with victims of crime to ensure the new scheme is trauma-informed and victim-centred.
Greens table petition calling for public access to lifesaving treatment (SA)
Greens MLC the Hon. Tammy Franks tabled a petition signed by 185 South Australian medical students calling for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to be made available in the public health system. TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, providing new hope for individuals suffering from major depression.
Supporting the needs of all Tasmanians (TAS)
The Tasmanian Government says it is providing more support for Tasmanians living with severe and persistent mental illness with the completion of Glenson Place supported accommodation. The 14-unit group home facility provides supported accommodation for Tasmanians living with severe and persistent mental illness in a safe and modern environment.
Taking action to allow interstate prescribing (TAS)
The Tasmanian Liberal Government says it is taking action to improve access to medication for Tasmanians, with the Poisons Act 1971 to be amended to allow prescriptions issued interstate to be filled in Tasmania. The Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing said the proposed changes would make accessing healthcare even easier for Tasmanians, particularly for people with ADHD.
RACGP fronts ADHD inquiry to fix system ‘serving no one’ (TAS)
The RACGP used a Parliamentary Inquiry to advocate for eased restrictions to support GP-led ADHD prescribing, and multidisciplinary models of care for assessment and ongoing support for patients.
Mental Health Opportunities and Resources
Update on National Disability Insurance Scheme changes
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has provided the following information to help keep the community up to date on changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Changes to NDIS Supports
The Australian Parliament has passed changes to the NDIS Act 2013. This means there will be changes to the NDIS in the coming weeks and months. The NDIA will provide the latest information about what is changing and when on the NDIS website.
One change already affecting all NDIS participants is what supports and services participants can purchase with NDIS funding. Since 3 October 2024, there has been a new definition of NDIS supports. This means participants must only use their NDIS funding to purchase items on the list of approved NDIS supports. There is also a list of items that NDIS funding cannot be used on.
The lists are on the NDIS website:
NDIS Supports – what if you purchase the wrong supports?
To give people time to adjust and learn what’s in the NDIS supports list, there is a 12 month transition period. After that 12 month period, the NDIA will be able to ask participants and providers to repay funding used to purchase non-NDIS supports. For the next 12 months, the NDIA won’t raise a debt if a participant makes a mistake and purchases a non-NDIS support for the first or second mistakes or if the support is worth less than $1,500.
This transition period is 30 days for providers. The transition period doesn’t apply if a participant purchases illegal items with funding from their NDIS plan. If someone makes repeated or fraudulent claims, the NDIA will take further action.
NDIS Supports – replacement supports
There is also a list of items you can ask to purchase with your NDIS funding instead of a NDIS support. You can view the list of replacement supports here: Our Guidelines – What does NDIS fund? On that page, there is also a guide to how to apply for a replacement support. Participants can ask the NDIA for a replacement support by filling out an application form and submitting it to the NDIA. You can download the application form at that ‘What does NDIS fund’ page linked above.
If you ask for a replacement support and the NDIA does not approve it, you can’t ask for that replacement support again for 12 months.
Have your say: Consultations underway to inform design and delivery of Foundational Supports
Foundational Supports are additional supports for people with disability. They will sit alongside the NDIS and existing services in the community.
The Australian Government wants to hear from people with disability, parents, families and the sector to help design Foundational Supports.
There will be different types of Foundational Supports. The Department of Social Services is starting consultation on just some of these supports, called general supports. These are for all people with disability aged under 65. Depending on your interests, you can join discussions about supports like:
- information and advice
- self-advocacy
- peer supports
- capacity building.
Have your say before 30 November 2024 by:
- adding to an online ideas wall
- completing an online questionnaire or uploading a submission
- attending an event near you or online.
Visit www.engage.dss.gov.au/Foundational-Supports to have your say or for more information.
Consultation on National Disability Insurance Scheme pricing
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Review recommended that the Australian Government should transition responsibility for advising on National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) pricing to the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) (see Action 11.3). The Australian Government is yet to outline whether it will or will not implement this recommendation.
IHACPA is now running consultations seeking feedback from the community on NDIS Pricing. IHACPA wants to hear about what to consider in pricing the NDIS, how pricing approaches can best operate, and what does and doesn’t work.
IHACPA is looking to hear from NDIS participants, family, carers and supporters, providers, workers and representative organisations. You can find out more about taking part on the IHACPA website:
- online or in-person workshop
- online submission
- answer a list of questions
- share your ideas in Easy Read.
You can also learn more about IHACPA’s work on exploring opportunities for NDIS pricing reform on the IHACPA website at the button below.
ANZACATA Conference 2024, 15 - 16 November, Melbourne
The 2024 Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) Conference is being held at the Ibis Melbourne this November. The program includes special guest presenters Dr Dave Gussak (Florida State University) and Professor Rainbow Tin Hung Ho (University of Hong Kong), and optional workshops.
Information about registration, accommodation and more is available at the button below.
Butterfly Foundation's BodyKind Youth Survey is closing soon!
It's the last chance for young people aged 12 - 18 to complete the third national online survey on body image. The BodyKind Youth Survey helps Butterfly understand the body image experiences of young Australians and get young peoples’ views on what needs to change to create a more BodyKind Australia.
Participants can win one of 20 gift vouchers.
Further information and a link to the survey is available at the button below.
Mind Medicine Australia: Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
Mind Medicine Australia is offering a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies. The course will equip qualified clinicians with the essential skills and awareness needed to safely and successfully facilitate psychedelic-assisted therapies. Join world-renowned experts including Professor David Nutt (UK), Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (USA), Dr. Gabor Maté (CANADA), Dr. Rick Doblin (USA), Dr. Lauren McDonald (UK), Dr. Tirzah Firestone (USA), Dr. Eli Kotler to advance your professional journey, explore the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies and lead the way in healing those in need.
The first intake of 2025 begins on 16 February. Spaces are strictly limited and filling fast.
Learn more at the button below, or contact Mind Medicine Australia on 03 8679 6015.
Invitation to the Kip Enderby Memorial Lecture 2024: Dismantling systemic racism – perspectives from First Nations peoples
The Australian Human Rights Commission invites you to attend this year’s free online Kip Enderby Memorial Lecture on Friday 1 November. CEO of First Nations Collective Marni Tuala will deliver this year's oration, and share the findings of extensive consultations with First Nations peoples across Australia about their experiences of racism and recommendations for systemic change.
Read more at the button below.
Queensland Mental Health Commission Leading Reform Summit 2024
Join the conversation about reform: Sofitel Brisbane Central, 27 - 28 November, 2024
The Leading Reform Summit is the Queensland Mental Health Commission's annual two-day forum for leaders in Queensland's mental health, alcohol and other drugs, suicide prevention and associated human services sectors. It's a forum for leaders, people with lived and living experience, carers, frontline clinicians and workers, service providers, policy-makers, funders, planners and decision-makers.
Places are limited. Register at the button below to avoid missing out.
Seeking mental health prevention professionals!
Survey of Community Attitudes to Prevention of Mental Health Problems
Researchers at the University of Melbourne are conducting a survey to understand community attitudes to the prevention of mental health problems, and actions taken to support mental health. Professionals with expertise in mental health prevention in practice, healthcare, policy, or research settings are invited to take part in an online survey to help identify ways to improve attitudes to prevention in Australia. The survey takes no more than 10 minutes.
For more information, please contact Ellie Tsiamis ellie.tsiamis@unimelb.edu.au or Professor Nicola Reavley nreavley@unimelb.edu.au, or click the button below.
Help improve professional development for the youth mental health workforce
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, is seeking to understand the learning needs of the youth mental health workforce in a short survey.
Mental health professionals who work with young people aged 12 to 25 are invited to help shape the future of professional development in youth mental health in The THRIVE Project: Exploring self-directed learning in youth mental health workforce survey. Survey participants can also win a $100 gift voucher.
The survey closes 25 January 2025 and can be accessed at the button below.
Event reminder! 2024 Synergy in Care: The "Better Together" Primary Healthcare Summit, Thursday 24 October 6:15pm - 9:00pm
The Sydney North Healthcare Network invites you to an evening of engaging and thought-provoking conversations with influential healthcare leaders. An expert panel will discuss what an integrated, place-based and person-centred approach to healthcare can look like.
Learn more at the button below.
2024 Rural Mental Health Conference is coming in November
Cairns, Queensland 6 - 8 November: mark the dates in your calendar now for this year’s Rural Mental Health Conference.
This event is the place to be if you work in mental or allied health within rural and remote communities or with companies that support better mental health outcomes for rural communities.
Register now for the 10th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health
Spanning three days across 19 - 22 November, the Conference main program will be offered over eleven concurrent streams each day. The diverse range of topics covered in each stream will explore the intersection between social workers and Health and Mental Health care.
Blending keynote and featured speakers, plenary and concurrent sessions and workshops, the Conference program will bring forward new concepts, discuss existing practices and give attendees the most up to date subject knowledge available.
Reminder: Occupational Therapy Australia’s OT Mental Health Forum 2024
Occupational Therapy Australia’s (OTA) OT Mental Health Forum 2024, taking place on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 November in Melbourne and the program is now live!
OTA and our Forum Committee have put together an exciting, varied program that spans two full days.
With inspiring keynote speakers, panel sessions, ePosters, workshops and more, this is an inspiring program with something for everyone working in mental health occupational therapy.
Explore the full program here: https://www.otausevnts.com.au/cmspreview/mentalhealthforum2024/program-agenda
Don’t forget to use #MHF24 hashtag and tag Occupational Therapy Australia!
Job vacancies: Senior leadership opportunities at Everymind
Everymind has two new openings in its Senior Leadership Team – Engagement and Program Manager, and Research and Program Manager.
- The Engagement and Program Manager will provide strategic leadership across engagement functions for Everymind including government relations and strategic communications, as well as leading the best practice communication program area, which includes the national Mindframe program.
- The Research and Program Manager will provide leadership across research and evaluation for Everymind as well as leading the knowledge program area, which includes the national Life in Mind program and LIFEWAYS project.
To learn more about these exciting opportunities, visit https://everymind.org.au/careers
Applications close on 29 October 2024.
Featured Members
Lifeline is Australia’s largest suicide prevention service with a vision of an Australia free of suicide. The Lifeline network includes 40 centres in metropolitan, rural and remote areas across the nation. There are over 10,000 volunteers and 1,000 employees working to ensure that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone. Lifeline aims to deliver digital services to Australian people in crisis, wherever they might be and in the mode in which they are most comfortable accessing support. Each year, Lifeline receives almost 1 million contacts from people in crisis. Someone in Australia phones the 13 11 14 phoneline every 35 seconds. People also access support online via webchat at lifeline.org.au (7pm – midnight AEST) and through text message service on 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEST). Lifeline centres also deliver accredited education and training programs focusing on suicide awareness and prevention; and community-based suicide prevention initiatives, including support services (for example counselling and bereavement groups) for those impacted by suicide. If you, or someone you know is in need of support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Opengate Institute is Australia’s only Registered Training Organisation (RTO) accredited to deliver the nationally recognised course 10757NAT Graduate Certificate in Sandtray Therapy. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor shorter courses to meet industry mental health needs including PD for staff wellbeing.
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