Peer Work Scholarships Now Open
The Mental Health Peer Work Scholarship Program is now taking applications from carers and consumers with lived mental health experience to undertake nationally recognised vocational training in mental health peer work.
The application period is open until 23 June 2023, with successful applicants to receive funding up to $5000 to undertake a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work in 2023.
Find out more and apply for the scholarships here.
Federal Budget 2023
The Albanese Government delivered the Federal Budget on Tuesday the 9th May. MHCV appreciates the budget's attention to addressing critical service gaps in our mental health system. We do however echo Carers Australia disappointment that the Budget did not include funding for a new National Carers Strategy.
Budget commitments worth highlighting:
- $260.2 million over two years for psychosocial support for people with severe mental illness, who are not eligible for NDIS
- $136.0 million over 4 years from 2023–24 and $36.0 million ongoing to deliver better mental health support for survivors of torture and trauma and other culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- $91.3 million package to increase the psychology workforce and $17.8 million over 5 years from 2022–23 to upskill the broader workforce
- $8.7 million over 3 years from 2023–24 to establish and operate independent national mental health lived-experience peak bodies for carers and for consumers to advise on mental health policies and programs and to support lived-experience research
- $6.9 million over two years from 2023–24 to continue child and youth mental health supports, including supporting digital work and study and student mentoring
- $2.8 million in 2023–24 to extend mental health supports for Australians living with eating disorders and their families and carers
You can read a more detailed overview of the Budget papers by Mental Health Australia here. The Carers Australia media release on the Budget can be read here.
Dhulwa Oversight Committee Update
On April 12th, Carers ACT CEO Lisa Kelly and Manager of Policy and Advocacy Kamla Brisbane met with Minister Emma Davidson and Canberra Health Services' CEO David Peffer to discuss the Dhulwa privacy breach incident. The meeting was productive, with the Minister and Mr. Peffer taking accountability for the incident and previous issues that carers have highlighted in Dhulwa.
Since the meeting, the Dhulwa Independent Oversight Board has been established. The board includes a Carers ACT staff representative and a carer representative, and has already held one meeting to begin work on implementing the recommendations in the Deegan Report. Read the minutes of the Oversight Board's meeting here.
Disability Parking Permit Eligibility to include Neurodivergence
Families and carers of residents in the ACT who require assistance with safe walking due to cognitive or behavioral needs are now eligible to apply for an Australian Disability Parking Permit. The updated criteria allows medical professionals to support an application in situations where a person's cognitive, behavioral, or neurological needs prevent them from walking safely without the ongoing support of a family member, carer, or support person.
More information about the Australian Disability Parking Permit, including an application form for ACT residents, is available on the Access Canberra website.
New Mobile Health Van Service for ACT Young People
The Junction is set to operate an outreach van providing health services (including vaccinations, STI checks and cervical screenings) to the outer suburbs of Canberra for underprivileged youths. Organisers have expressed the possibility for expansion to other regions based on consultation.
You can read the full ABC article about the program here.
Schizophrenia Awareness Week
Schizophrenia Awareness Week (21st - 27th May) aims to amplify the voice of people living with schizophrenia to support ongoing mental health reform. People with schizophrenia are often stigmatised and marginalised in our community, so connecting to services delivered by community-based mental health organisations is an important part of mental health recovery and reform. We continue to advocate for greater investment in complex mental health supports to ensure that every person living with a complex mental health condition and their family and carers receive the help they need.
Connect with supports at Finding North.
