ACT budget for 2024-25 announced The ACT Budget for 2024-25 has come out and, while lean on substantial investment in system reform, MHCV was pleased to see a number of investments in the mental health sector including: - $897,000 over two years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health initiatives: This funding will support the co-design of a specialist youth mental health service model, and measures to create more culturally appropriate services for the ACT’s First Peoples.
- $1.91 million over four years to explore the establishment of a community-based crisis response program: We are looking forward to innovative evidence-based models of crisis response that can meet people where they are in the community and consider the needs of carers.
- $7.6 million for ongoing support of the second PACER team: While we welcome the much-needed stable funding for this essential program that helps people with mental ill health remain at home, we’re also cautious of the additional care responsibilities this may place on carers. Carers ACT MHCV will continue to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations from the PACER evaluation, as well as mental health carer-specific respite and supports to complement the service.
- $2.7 million for housing for vulnerable people with high-intensity mental health support needs: This initiative includes the phased implementation of best practice accommodation support packages, designed to address housing accessibility issues and provide psychosocial support for individuals with complex needs.
- $1.68 million for ongoing delivery of youth mental health services: Continued support towards essential programs such as WOKE, the MindMap Online Youth Navigation Portal, and Stepping Stones, will help fill crucial gaps in the mental health support network for young people in the ACT.
- $341,000 to continue the expanded Detention Exit Community Outreach (DECO) program: This initiative aims to provide mental health and psychosocial support for individuals exiting detention, offering critical assistance during this significant transition period.
Other relevant investments include a 12-month extension of the Rent Relief Fund, enhancements to the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, $19.21 million over four years for Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation and Delivery, and $52.81 million for four new Health Centres.
You can read the MHCV submission to the 2024-25 ACT Budget consultation process via this link. Full budget papers can be found via the ACT Budget website here.
Latest SDAC data shows increase in number of carers nationally The 2022 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) has revealed a significant increase in the number of carers across Australia. According to the survey, 3 million people, or 11.9% of Australians living in households, were carers in 2022, up from 10.8% in 2018. This means around one in eight Australians is providing unpaid care to people with disability and older people. The rising numbers are not surprising given the increasing population of Australians living with disability or aged 65 years and over.
This data underscores the urgent need for enhanced support for unpaid carers. Data from the SDAC is essential for our advocacy efforts and over the coming weeks, Carers ACT will be closely examining these findings. You can read a summary of the SDAC data via this website.
Organisations to run the national mental health lived experience peak bodies announced The Department of Health and Aged Care has announced the two organisations set to establish the national lived experience peak bodies following a competitive grants process. The National Mental Health Consumer Alliance will establish the new Consumer Peak Body, while Mental Health Carers Australia will establish the Family, Carer and Kin Peak Body.
These new peak bodies are expected to be operational in the coming months. Once established, they will collaborate with the Government, people with lived experience, and existing organisations to improve mental health outcomes for all Australians. You can read more about the announcement via the full media release from Health Minister Mark Butler here.
Design Phase of the mental health commissioning process.The ACT Health Mental Health Commissioning Team has now released The Design Phase Insights Report for the Mental Health Commissioning process.
The Insights Report synthesises the feedback that was heard throughout all consultation activities and contextualises this into 10 key themes. It also provides information about the next steps in the commissioning process, including the development of the Mental Health Commissioning Strategic Investment Plan.
To present the consultation feedback and to outline the next steps in the commissioning process, the Mental Health Commissioning Team will be hosting an Insights Report Webinar. The webinar is an opportunity to hear directly from the Commissioning Advisory Group, and for the sector, consumers, and carers to ask questions regarding the report and the commissioning process.
Details for the webinar are: For those registering, please note that the link to the Webinar will be sent closer to the event date. Prior to the webinar anyone who registers will also be provided with an opportunity to pre-lodge any questions they may have before the event.
If you cannot attend at the allocated time, a recording of the Webinar will be uploaded to the Commissioning Website where you will be able to view it any time.
Lived experience should be centred in future mental health researchA recent study by researchers from the Australian National University and the University of Melbourne has highlighted the importance of centering lived experience in mental health research. Published in PLOS Mental Health, the study gathered perspectives from people living with mental ill-health, as well as their carers, families, and kinship group members.
One of the key findings is the central role that lived experience plays in shaping research priorities, with significant themes including experience, treatment, impact, stigma, peer support, and trauma. For more details, you can read the full study here.
4 in 5 Australians feel anxious about the impact of extreme weatherNew NRMA Insurance research has highlighted the mental health impacts of Australia's changing climate, with 80% of Australians surveyed stating they feel anxious about the impact of extreme weather. The research findings coincide with an increased demand for critical mental health support related to natural disasters. Lifeline Australia has seen a 25% increase in calls to its dedicated disaster recovery helpline 13HELP over the past three years, and received more than 430,000 calls during that time.
You can find out more about the research via this link.
National Carer Strategy Focus GroupAustralia is getting a National Carer Strategy to improve how carers across the country are considered in policy that affects them.
Carers ACT, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services (DSS), is hosting a focus group for carers to share their ideas about what the National Carer Strategy should look like and how the diversity of caring roles can be reflected in its vision, outcomes and priority areas.
Similar National Carer Strategy focus groups are taking place across the country to ensure that carers in all areas of Australia can have their say.
As places at this consultation are limited, Carers ACT will be in touch to confirm your registration.
Date: 17 July 2024 Time: 10am - 12pm Location: Carers ACT 2/80 Beaurepaire Cres, Holt, ACT 2615 Register your interest before 11:30pm 15th July: https://events.carersact.org.au/event/?id=National_Carer_Strategy_Focus_Group1985143046
Please contact the Carers ACT Policy and Advocacy Team with any queries, feedback or requests for future Carer Collective topics at carer.advocacy@carersact.org.au or via reception.
Guidelines implementation toolkit: how can we best translate evidence-to-practice? The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney is developing an implementation toolkit to translate the Guidelines on co-occurring conditions (3rd edition) into practice. They are seeking input from carers of individuals who have received care for alcohol or other drugs from an Australian organisation in the past two years.
Who can participate: - Individuals 18 years of age or older
- Carers (in a non-professional capacity) of someone who has received AOD-related care in the past two years
What’s involved: - Completing a 10-minute pre-focus group survey
- Participating in a 90-minute online focus group via Zoom
- Participants will be remunerated for their time
For more information and to register, visit: bit.ly/gl-toolkit-loved-ones-info.
Your insights will help improve treatment outcomes for people with co-occurring conditions. For further information about the study please contact Erin Madden (PhD candidate and Project Officer) via email at erin.madden@sydney.edu.au or phone on 02 8627 9024
Draft Charter for Carers interacting with ACT Child Protection Services Foster and kinship carers are being invited to have their say on the draft Charter for Carers, which will set out the rights and responsibilities of carers interacting with ACT Child Protection Services. This charter is a direct result of the advocacy undertaken by Carers ACT to have a Charter for Carers developed that sits alongside the Charter for Parents and Families involved with ACT child protection services.
We encourage all foster and kinship carers to participate in the consultation by completing the survey on the YourSay Charter for Carers Page or contacting charterforcarers@act.gov.au. Carers are also welcome to contact us at kinship.fostercare@carersact.org.au to discuss. Consultation closes Friday 2nd August 2024.
2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study still open The ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation and Australian National University are conducting the 2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study. This crucial research aims to understand the mental health priorities of young people living with mental ill-health (aged 16-25) and their carers, family, or kinship groups.
Carers are invited to participate in this project via a variety of participation methods, including an online survey, photo interviews, emotion mapping, and crowdsourcing. Your input will ensure the research agenda aligns with the needs of consumers and carers going forward.
If you are interested please visit this link for more information.
Exploring the impact of serious mental health conditions on social inclusion and cognitionResearchers at Orygen are conducting a study on how social cognition relates to social inclusion for individuals aged 25 to 65 living with a psychotic illness. Orygen is looking for people aged 25 to 65, living with a psychotic illness, and interested in giving back to the community by participating in some simple research.
Participation involves:
- Completing questionnaires about mental health and social life.
- Participating in interviews.
- Completing cognitive tasks that assess memory, attention, and social thinking skills.
Participants can choose which aspects of the study to join and will be reimbursed for their time. For more information, please contact Annabel Burnside at 0437 051 846 or annabel.burnside@orygen.org.au.
Wayahead Living Library
Wayahead has launched the Living Library, an innovative online resource featuring stories, education, and experiences from people of all walks of life. This platform aims to generate reflective discussions, promote learning, and break the stigma surrounding mental health challenges and seeking help.
Access the Living Library here.
Information about Voluntary Assisted Dying in the ACTVoluntary Assisted Dying laws have recently passed in the ACT. The ACT Health website has been updated with information about Voluntary Assisted Dying including:
- when it will be available,
- the process to apply for VAD
- support services
- safety measures to ensure VAD is accessed appropriately.
Visit the ACT Health website for more details.
Know where to go for health care in the ACT with this easy toolCanberra Health Services has recently introduced a new, user-friendly health literacy tool. This tool has been designed to help you make informed decisions about the most suitable health care options for yourself or the person you care for.
You can use this tool to find information on community health services that usually don't need a referral and also covers non-government health services.
Access the tool by navigating to the Canberra Health Services website or clicking this link.
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