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 service providers: My Health Record for community mental health organisations

Webinar information session and Q&A

Thursday 27th April 2-3pm AEST register here

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

Webinar information session and Q&A

The same webinar will be presented across two timeslots:

Wednesday 3 May 11 - 11:30am AEST register here

Wednesday 17th May, 6 =E2=80=93 6:30pm AEST register here

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

Fresh data on health impacts of cost of living

ReachOut has released the results of a national survey of more than 650 young people aged 16-25 years. Almost one in three young people in Australia reported the cost of living as one of the issues they are most concerned about, and for 40 per cent of those young people the cost of living is having a major impact on their mental health.

The survey also found high levels of reported mood and behaviour changes because of cost of living worries. Notably, the research also found that young people are not just worried about what's happening right now, but also what their futures will look like.

Consultation on new trauma-informed legal assistance pilot

The Federal Government is seeking input from victims and survivors of sexual violence to inform the development of three pilot specialised legal services.

The first Labor Government Budget committed $8.4 million over three years from 2023-24 to pilot new legal service delivery models for sexual violence victims and survivors. This consultation will offer an opportunity for victims and survivors, legal assistance service delivery experts, and other non-government representatives and states and territories to have their say on how the pilot should be developed.

Results released of new child maltreatment study

Blue Knot has launched a new landmark national study, the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, which seeks to reveal how common five different forms of child maltreatment are in the Australian population. The study's findings were published this week.

The project was led by Professor Ben Mathews at the Queensland University of Technology, and the team includes 9 leading investigators from across Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Call for government action on the rental crisis

As a new report reveals hundreds of thousands of Australians are in need of social housing while rents are expected to remain high for years, Everybody's Home is urging the Federal Government to take bold action to fix the mess.

The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation estimates that conservatively 377,600 households are in need of social and affordable housing either due to rental stress or homelessness. Other estimates put that figure as high as 640,0000. The Corporation also anticipates rents will remain high over the next couple of years as demand rises while shortages of multi-density dwellings for rent are expected.

Affirmative action on farmer mental health

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) is supporting calls for more affirmative action to boost mental health support and services for farmers and rural communities, after the release of a new report.

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report, commissioned by Norco and the National Farmers' Federation, highlighted key issues that need urgent attention, based on recent survey results. 

Nearly two-thirds of adolescent long stays in NSW hospitals for mental health

A study by University of Sydney researchers has shown that 63 percent of long-stay admissions to NSW hospitals for children aged 12 to 15 is for mental health care.

Reasons for admission for these children included eating disorders, anxiety and depression. This contrasts with children aged 8 to 11, for whom just 11.3 percent of long-stay admissions to hospital are for mental health reasons. The findings also showed that children admitted to hospital for stays longer than a week were more commonly from disadvantaged backgrounds or lived further from hospitals in rural and regional NSW.

World Autism Day celebrated with light show

World Autism Day was celebrated last Sunday with South Australia's Parliament House lighting up in a spectrum of colours to celebrate Autistic and autism communities. South Australians were encouraged to take a selfie in front of Parliament on Sunday night and tag #WorldAutismDaySA to celebrate.

The South Australian State Government is in the final stages of appointing their first Autism Strategy Advisory Committee, which will guide development and implementation of the State Autism Strategy. The Committee will be chaired by the world's first Assistant Minister for Autism, the Hon Emily Bourke MLC and will be the first predominantly Autistic led committee of its kind in Australia.

Celebrating trans and gender diverse people with disability

Last Friday on 31 March was Transgender Day of Disability, and among those celebrating the nation's trans and gender diverse community were People with Disability Australia (PWDA).

=E2=80=9CVisibility is a powerful tool to unite, connect and find pride in all our diversity,=E2=80=9D said PWDA member and disability and LGBTIQA+ activist, Jax Brown (they/them). =E2=80=9CTrans Day of Visibility is a chance to be visible on our own terms, celebrate our whole selves, and raise awareness and acceptance of our right to full autonomy over our own bodies and identities.=E2=80=9D

Founded by transgender activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker in 2009, the annual international Transgender Day of Visibility is a day of pride and celebration to recognise and promote the contributions and achievements of all trans and gender diverse people.

Funding boost for programs to help young Aboriginal people thrive

Thirteen organisations that work with young Aboriginal people in Western Australia have received a funding boost through the State Government's Aboriginal Youth Empowerment Grants program. The program, administered by the Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA), aims to support initiatives that elevate the voice of young Aboriginal people aged 10-25 through increased representation, engagement and participation with decision-making.

YACWA, in partnership with the Department of Communities, has awarded grants of up to $25,000 to a range of projects, including on country programs, a community garden and leadership programs.

Funding boost for health and wellbeing for LGBTQIA+ young people

Organisations from across Western Australia will receive a funding boost to run initiatives that support LGBTQIA+ people as part of a $275,000 State Government program. The program, administered by the Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA), aims to support initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ young people aged 10-25 years through increased representation, engagement, and participation with a focus on decision-making.

Strengthening eating disorder supports in Victoria

Consultation on the Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy was recently completed, following roundtable consultations and written submissions from more than 250 community members, including those with or at risk of eating disorders, families and carers, as well as health services, clinical experts and advocacy groups.

The What we heard report, released last Friday, outlines the community's vision for people in Victoria to have a safe and empowered relationship with their body, food and movement, free of stigma or weight discrimination, so they can build a meaningful life underpinned by physical and mental wellbeing.

New Minister's Carer Advisory Council appointments

As part of the reforms under the Tasmanian Government's new Carer Recognition legislation, the Minister's Carer Advisory Council has been established with five lived experience members. The Council has been created to provide advice, information and insights about issues affecting carers to assist in the development and delivery of informed, effective and evidence-based policy, programs and projects and will play a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan and annual Tasmanian Government agency reporting requirements.

New specialist mental health and addiction service

A new statewide specialist service opened this week for Victorians with co-occurring mental health and substance addiction issues. Turning Point, Australia's leading addiction treatment and research centre, led the design and delivery of the Hamilton Centre and will lead a clinical network that will support the Hamilton Centre's functions across the state.

Upgrades for three youth mental health facilities

Builders have been appointed and construction is set to start on major upgrades to three community-based youth centres in Victoria. Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams announced on Monday the appointment of Bowden Corporation to refurbish and modernise the existing Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC centres in Dandenong and Frankston, while Alchemy Construct will oversee upgrades to the Bendigo YPARC centre.

Liptember Foundation challenge Aussie men to Lip-Stick It to women's mental health issues

The Liptember Foundation is challenging men to =E2=80=98Lip-Stick It=E2=80=99 to women=E2=80=99s mental health issues on May 11.

In a new Australian-first fundraiser, Lip-Stick It encourages men across the nation to wear bright coloured lipstick on 11 May, get sponsored by their family and friends; and raise much-needed funds for women=E2=80=99s mental health support services.

Lip-Stick It is about being seen, challenging social norms and not being embarrassed to stand behind the women you love - bringing a new level of awareness for the unique challenges that women face in the mental health space.

Victoria is seeking youth mental health champions

Expressions of Interest opened today for leaders to head up the new Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Victoria (YMHWV) body =E2=80=93 delivering on a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria=E2=80=99s Mental Health System for a safer and more supportive system for young people.

The YMHWV body will provide system leadership and champion the voice of young people with lived experience on its governing board and = advisory body.

The Board will consist of at least two people aged 18 to 25 with lived or living experience of mental illness, and one person aged 18 to 25 with experience caring or supporting someone with mental illness or psychological distress. Candidates with lived and living experience of mental health are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications close on 25 April.

Public consultation on draft Clinical Care Standard

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released their draft Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard.

The Standard describes key components of care that people of all ages living with cognitive disability or impairment can expect to receive in all healthcare settings to reduce the inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines.

The Commission is seeking feedback from consumers, clinicians, health services, and anyone with an interest in cognitive disability, cognitive impairment, aged care or disability services.