Resources on the Voice Referendum

In April 2023, the Mental Health Australia Board Directors agreed unanimously to Mental Health Australia’s public support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. The Board noted the unequivocal links between identity, recognition and genuine engagement in policy development, and social and emotional wellbeing.

Resources for safe conversations about the Voice

The Yes23 campaign has great guidance for talking about the Voice to Parliament.

Another great resource is ANU’s Responding to Common Concerns about an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Recommended reading

Opponents of the Voice say that it will change how the country is run. Megan Davis says that's the point. This (free to read) feature article in the Financial Review Magazine looks at Megan Davis' experiences working on the Uluru Statement from the Heart; her views on the Voice to Parliament; and what both sides of the current debate are saying and why in the lead up to the referendum.

Does your mental health organisation have resources about the Voice? Let us know.

My Health Record and mental health webinars

You are invited to upcoming information webinars about My Health Record for the mental health sector, hosted by Mental Health Australia in collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency.

For people with lived experience, carers and support organisations: My Health Record and mental health advance directives

Webinar information session and Q&A | Wednesday 17 May, 6 – 6:30pm AEST register here

Feel free to share these events across your networks. For more information, contact policy@mhaustralia.org

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health News

The Embrace Suicide Prevention Pilot is a collaboration between Embrace, Suicide Prevention Australia, R U OK?, and evaluation partner, Kantar Public. The pilot seeks to further inform best practice and increase sector and community capacity to prevent suicide in multicultural communities. It will do this by piloting implementation of the Embrace framework within R U OK?, combined with an approach for R U OK? resource co-design in CALD communities. R U OK? has partnered with three community leaders from Arabic, Hindi, and Vietnamese-speaking communities.

This week, all pilot partners held a roundtable discussion in Canberra with representatives from pilot communities, CALD lived experience, government, mental health services, and suicide prevention organisations to share information about the pilot and solicit input. The discussion focused on addressing key gaps and learning from excellence in CALD suicide prevention. One overarching theme was the importance of proactive community engagement and community-led solutions to address the unique needs of multicultural communities. Roundtable participants also illustrated the fact that Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world with over one third of participants born overseas, more than half with one or both parents born overseas, and 19+ languages spoken across the group.

The pilot team will continue to validate and build upon the learnings and recommendations gained throughout the pilot. The pilot co-design process and resource testing in the communities is expected to run through September/October of this year, with evaluation findings finalised before the year's end.

$7.9 million to improve healthcare with more collaborative research

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney said projects aiming to improve leadership equity in health care, mental health, children's wellbeing and patient safety are among those awarded $7.9 million in grants for research conducted in collaboration with health sector partners across Australia. Six projects have been funded through the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project grants commencing in 2023. These grants support researchers to partner with policy makers and health service providers to design and deliver research that addresses health needs in our community.

Speech at National Suicide Prevention Conference, Canberra

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, discusses Voice to Parliament, Our Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill, Housing Australia Future Fund, cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, fee-free TAFE, wage raises for aged care workers, Parental Leave Pay, paid Domestic Violence Leave, National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, suicide prevention initiatives, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership, Taking Stock, 10 Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people, interpreting services, National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program, new national lived experience peak bodies, Suicide Prevention Australia's Community Tracker, National Suicide and Self-Harm Monitoring System, and National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Supporting patients to access high-quality mental health services

The Tasmanian Government is working to ensure Tasmanians continue to have access to the right mental health services for their needs following today’s decision by Healthscope to close the St Helen’s Private Hospital in Hobart in June 2023. Primarily a mental health facility, St Helen’s Private Hospital provides mental health inpatient and day services, and hosts a Mother Baby Unit. The hospital has an average occupancy of 24 patients. Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Jeremy Rockliff said the Government was working with partners in the wider health system to manage the impact of the closure. "While this is a commercial decision by Healthscope and we are disappointed, we are stepping in to ensure the community still has access to these important health services," the Premier said.

APS: ANU research shows government must act on psychology crisis

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is urging the Federal Government to stabilise and strengthen the psychology sector following the release of shocking workplace research by the Australian National University. ANU researchers examined the professional and personal impacts of disasters on psychologists and patients since 2019 and how best to support the psychology workforce, with key findings including: Psychologists reported increased frequency and severity in patient presentations, specifically: three quarters of psychologists reported increased anxiety, stress/wellbeing, climate distress and adjustment issues. More than 50% of psychologists reported increased depression, trauma, loss/grief, complex mental health and child behaviour management among other presentations.

Funding the next generation of mental health workers

The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to build a strong and skilled mental health workforce by supporting nearly 400 scholarships and grants for students studying mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) courses. Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams today met some of Victoria's Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship recipients - which is part of the Labor Governments $6 million investment to boost the workforce. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Scholarship program is helping AOD practitioners and allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists, develop their mental health skillset to support an integrated and wrap-around mental health system for all Victorians who need help.

Sydney spinout lands $273m deal to develop drugs for psychiatric disorders

University of Sydney spinout, Kinoxis Therapeutics, today announced a partnership with global pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim to develop oxytocin-targeting precision treatments aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with psychiatric disorders. The partnership, worth up to $US181 million ($A273 million) in payments - plus royalties on any future sales - establishes Kinoxis as a global player in the development of precision drugs for the treatment of conditions including schizophrenia, depression and dementia. 

Cultural Perspectives paid survey opportunity

Cultural Perspectives, on behalf of the Department of Health and Aged Care, are surveying people’s experiences when it comes to looking for health related information. This survey will take approximately 15 minutes and your responses will be completely anonymous and confidential. Each respondent to the survey will also receive an $10 voucher in appreciation of their time.

COVID-19 Disability Provider Alert

The Department of Health and Aged Care has issued its next COVID-19 Disability Provider Alert. This provider alert, along with other resources and information about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, is available from a dedicated web page for disability service providers on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website. This page will be updated regularly.

Call for Abstracts Open - APC2023

The Call for Abstracts are now open for the Australian Psychosis Conference 2023. Please submit your abstract by midnight (AEST) 16 June 2023. APC2023 will be held 11-13 September 2023 at Novotel Sydney, Brighton Le Sands Beach.

Equally Well Achievement Awards

The Equally Well Achievement Awards are an opportunity to formally recognise organisations, projects, initiatives and individuals who are making an impact on improving the physical health outcomes of people living with mental health challenges. The inaugural awards will be presented as part of the Equally Well birthday celebrations at the Equally Well 2023 Symposium, 25-27 July. The closing date for nominations has been extended to 12 May.

Funding for Interpreting Services

The Australian Government is funding interpreting services for approved Primary Health Networks-commissioned mental health services to assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds when accessing mental health support. The Department of Health and Aged Care is encouraging all eligible allied health professionals and mental health agencies to access this funding.

Refer to the Department of Health and Aged Care website to check eligibility and obtain instructions on registering for a funded TIS National client code.

Join the mental health community at TheMHS Conference ‘Making Rights Real’

TheMHS Adelaide 15-18 August, 2023 will focus on Making Rights Real: bringing humanity and human rights into mental health.

Hear from inspirational global speakers, including Dainius Pūras, a world-renowned clinician and advocate of human rights in mental health. A stunning line up of Featured Symposia will share insights and innovations from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, including First Nations, lived experience and culturally diverse perspectives. Also enjoy a lively networking event and celebrate at the 2023 Mental Health Service Awards ceremony. TheMHS Adelaide will explore the principles and practicalities of making rights real in mental health, including legal frameworks, culture, stigma, discrimination and evidence-based alternatives to re-traumatising practices.

Register by 2 June to catch Early Bird rates, group discounts also available