MHCV Team Update

Hi valued carers,  

Welcome to 2023! We hope you’ve had a wonderful start to the new year. Last year was a big year for us here at MHCV. We hosted the much awaited Caring Together conference, held NDIS info-share morning teas and DoNOHarm training, and contributed to various submissions and consultations - all with a new staff member joining the team at the start of the year. You’ll be please to know that MHCV is well on its way to making this year another big one in the mental health policy and advocacy space. So far we’ve:

• Consulted with the team at KPMG as part of the PACER evaluation
• Attended the Mental Health Advisory Group (joined by our wonderful carer representative as well)
• Met with the leads of the Youth at Risk project to discuss initial carer concerns
• Continued to contribute to committees and CHS consultations, ensuring carers are considered in all spaces

This year you will see us continue to work with the landmark legislation of the Carers Recognition Act 2021 (ACT). This newsletter will include updates in the mental health space, upcoming events and resources, as well as highlights from members of the carer community. We hope this will continue to be a great way to stay connected with you all.

As always, your voice is vital to the work we do and if you have anything you wish to share please feel free to contact us via email mhcarers@carersact.org.au.

All the best,

Catherine Joseph and Catherine Vonarx,

The Mental Health Carers Voice Team

Get Involved

Want to be more involved in Mental Health Carers Voice's work? You can:

• Sign up for our consultation list by updating your subscription settings here.
• Check the consultations page on our website for upcoming opportunities.
• Like us on Facebook for regular updates and opportunities.
• Join our Advocacy and Policy Advisory Group, a group of mental health carers who draw on their lived experience to drive our work. Learn more.

Upcoming DoNOHarm Training

MHCV is hosting another free DoNOHarm training session in collaboration with the wonderful team at MIEACT! We received some really positive feedback from both the staff and carers who attended the session we held late last year. If you would like to learn more about this important aspect of advocacy (and have some lovely morning tea) sign up now!

When: Wed, 1st of March 9:30AM - 12:30PM

Where: Meeting Rm 1, Carers ACT (Holt)

Register HERE

Changes to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)

The Government is replacing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) with a new federal review body that is user-friendly, efficient, easy to use, independent and fair. Cases, including those related to NDIS, already with the AAT will still be looked at and finished soon, and the Attorney-General will introduce a law in Parliament in 2023 to set up the new body. More information can be found on the Attorney General's Department website.

Multicultural Health Connect

HealthDirect has launched Multicultural Health Connect, the first national helpline to help people from different cultural backgrounds get health information and advice. The helpline is free and confidential, and workers from multicultural backgrounds are available to provide assistance in any language. This service is available to anyone from a multicultural background, regardless of their citizenship or visa status. You can call 1800 186 815 from Monday to Friday, 11am to 7pm, or visit the Multicultural Health Connect website for more information.

ACT Bereaved by Suicide Support Group

The Bereaved by Suicide Support Group, run by Lifeline Canberra in partnership with the Canberra Grief Centre, has set dates for its next session. This clinically supervised support group is for adults over 18 who have been bereaved by suicide for between three months and three years. The program will start on February 7, 2023 and will run for 12 weeks, ending on 2023-04-18. Meetings will take place from 6pm to 7:30pm every two weeks.

The cost of the program is a one-off $26 donation to Lifeline Canberra, which is the cost of one call to 13 11 14. The group will be facilitated by myself and Sonia Fenwick, Grief and Bereavement Counsellor from the Canberra Grief Centre. If you, or someone you know, would benefit from joining the group please call 6171 6313 or email rosie.phelan@act.lifeline.org.au.

Let’s Talk Podcast - The Butterfly Foundation

The Butterfly Foundation’s most recent podcast looks at how parents and carers can protect children from developing a negative body image. Psychology researcher Dr. Stephanie Damiano notes that contributing factors to the development of positive or negative body image are biological, psychological, and socio cultural. In the socio-cultural space our kids’ attitudes are shaped by family, the media, and their peers – and this is where adults can influence them. You can listen to thefull podcast episode here.

Carers Gateway

The Carer Gateway (delivered by Carers ACT) provides a range of tailored supports and services for carers that are personalised to your unique situation and outcome. Services include counselling and peer support groups, respite care, equipment, home help and even support in home emergency respite. You can get the support you need to manage your daily challenges, reduce stress, plan for the future, and improve your wellbeing.

Call the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 between 9am and 5pm and speak to one of our local care planners who will talk through what you need and help organise the right services and support to help you. 

Events Coming Up

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